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FRITHIOF'S   SAGA 

1-RO..I    THE    SWEDISH    OF 

E  S  A  I  A  S    .  T  E  G  N  E  R 

Bishop  cf  Wt'xio 

BY  THE 
REV.  WILLIAM  LEWERY  BLACKLEY,  M.A. 

First  American  Edition 

EDITED    BY 

BAYARD     TAYLOR 


NEW    YORK 

L  E  Y  P  O  L D  T     &     HOLT 
1867 


£5 
665 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress?,  in  the  year  1867,  by 

LEYPOLDT    A-,    HOLT, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States 
f  >r  the  Southern  District  of  New  York. 


JOHN    F.   TROW    &    CO., 
I'KIKTEHS,  STKIiKUTYPEKS,  fy  ELEUTR 
50     0  R  1C  E  iX  E     STREET.     N  .   T  . 


GIFT 


In  compliance  vs'ith  current  copyright 

law.  U.C.  Library  Bindery  produced 

this  replacement  x'olume  on  paper 

that  meets  the  ANSI  Standard  Z39-48- 

1984  to  replace  the  irreparably 

deteriorated  original. 


PUBLISHERS'     NOTICE. 


THIS  volume  is  the  second  of  a  uniform  series  of 
foreign  poems  lately  inaugurated  by  the  publication 
of  "  King  Rent's  Daughter "  from  the  Danish  of 
Henrik  Hertz.  It  is  our  intention  speedily  to  add 
Lessing's  "  Nathan  the  Wise,"  with  the  splendid  in 
troductory  essay  of  Fischer,  translated,  and  edited  by 
the  Rev.  O.  B.  Frothingham. 

If  we  are  not  disappointed  in  our  hopes  of  the 
public  appreciation  of  these,  we  will  add  others  of 
equal  interest.  Among  those  we  have  in  contempla 
tion  are  Goethe's  "  Hermann  and  Dorothea  ;  "  Mo- 
liere's  "  Tartuffe  ;"  Calderon's  "Life  is  a  Dream  ;" 
Tasso's  "  Aminta,"  translated  by  Leigh  Hunt ;  "  The 
Wooing  of  the  King's  Daughter,"  from  the  Norwe 
gian  of  Muench  ;  "  Boris  GodounofF,"  from  the  Rus 
sian  of  Pouschkine  ;  "  Nala  and  Damajanti,"  trans 
lated  from  the  Sanscrit  by  Milman  ;  and  a  translation 
of  Bodenstedt's  version  of  the  Turkish  songs  of 
Mirza-S  chaffy. 


M878938 


CONTENTS. 


Frithiof-Saga,  and  its  Author, v 

The  English  Translations  of  the  Frithiof-Saga,     . 
Abstract  of  the  Ancient  Frithiof-Saga,      -.         .         •    *xvl 


I.  Frithiof  and  Ingeborg, 

II.  King  Bele  and  Thorsten  Vikingsson, 

IIL  Frithiof's  Inheritance,          .... 

IV.  Frithiof's  Wooing, 31 

V.  King  Ring, 

VI.  Frithiof  Plays  Chess, 42 

VII.  Frithiof's  Joy, 45 

VIII.  The  Parting, 54 

IX.  Ingeborg's  Lamentation,     ....  74 

X.  Frithiof  at  Sea, 77 

XI.  Frithiof  with  Angantyr,       .... 

XII.  Frithiof's  Return, 99 

XIII.  Balder's  Bale-File, 

XIV.  Frithiof  Goeth  into  Banishment,     .         .         .      "3 


iv  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

XV.  Vikingabalk, 124 

XVI.  Frithiof  and  Bjorn, 129 

XVII.  Frithiof  Cometh  to  King  Ring,       .         .  133 

XVIII.  The  Ride  over  the  Ice,       .         .         .         .142 

XIX.  Frithiof's  Temptation,     ....  144 

XX.  The  Death  of  King  Ring,  .         .         .         .154 

XXI.  Ring's  Drapa, 158 

XXII.  The  King's  Election, 162 

XXIII.  Frithiof  beside  his  Father's  Grave,         .  167 

XXIV.  Reconciliation, 173 

Notes  to  the  American  Edition,   .        .        .        .          189 
Glossary, :      191 


FRITH  I  O  F'S    SAGA, 

AND    ITS    AUTHOR. 


No  poetical  work  of  modern  times  stands  forth  so 
prominently  and  peculiarly  a  representative  of  the  liter 
ature  of  a  race  and  language,  as  the  "Frithiof's  Saga" 
of  Esaias  Tegner.  Swedish  poetry,  of  comparatively 
recent  growth,  attained  in  this  work,  for  the  first  time, 
a  development  in  consonance  with  the  character  of  the 
Swedish  people,  and  with  those  qualities  of  the  Swedish 
tongue  which  distinguish  it  from  other  cognate  lan 
guages.  Purely  Scandinavian  in  its  spirit,  its  scenery, 
its  legendary  element,  and  only  indebted  to  antique  cul 
ture  for  a  part  of  its  rhythmical  form,  it  combines  the 
freshness  and  freedom  of  the  early  Saga  with  very  higli 
artistic  finish  and  proportion.  It  appeals  at  once  to  the 
national  pride,  and  the  simple  human  sentiment  of  the 
farmer  or  herdsman,  and  to  the  taste  of  the  scholar. 
Immediately  upon  the  appearance  of  the  poem,  its  claim 
to  be  placed  at  the  head  of  the  imaginative  literature  of 
Sweden  was  recognized.  No  one  attempted  to  contro- 

(v) 


vi        FRITHIOF'S  SAGA,  AND  ITS  AUTHOR. 

vert  the  decision,  which  has  only  been  strengthened  dur 
ing  the  forty-three  years  that  have  since  intervened. 

In  asserting  that  Swedish  poetry  is  of  recent  growth, 
I  refer  neither  to  the  old  Eddaic  literature,  nor  to  those 
authors  of  the  seventeenth  century  whose  reputation  still 
survives  in  their  native  land.  Few,  indeed,  outside  of 
Sweden,  have  ever  read  or  even  heard  of  the  hexameters 
of  Stjernhjelm,  or  the  pious  epic  of  Archbishop  Spegel. 
With  Dalin  commenced  the  new  era,  which  nearly  cor 
responds  in  time  to  that  of  England  and  Germany,  and 
of  which  Bellmann,  Franzen,  Wallin  and  Leopold — 
names  which  first  carried  Swedish  poetry  to  other  lands — 
were  the  most  prominent  representatives.  When  Bell 
mann  died,  Tegner  was  a  boy  of  thirteen :  to  Leopold, 
whom  he  knew,  he  dedicated  his  poem  of  "  Axel,"  and 
Geijer  and  Ling  belonged  to  his  own  generation.  He 
is  thus  the  central  figure  of  the  period — a  calm,  earnest, 
beautiful  life,  in  which  the  fire  and  enthusiasm  of  the 
poet,  the  sedate  strength  of  the  scholar,  the  tender  and 
solemn  humanity  of  the  preacher,  and  the  social  and 
domestic  affections  of  the  honest  Scandinavian  nature, 
are  blended  in  equal  and  harmonious  measure.  Al 
though  other  of  the  modern  Swedish  poets  may  occa 
sionally  surpass  Tegner  in  depth  of  reflection,  or  origin 
ality  of  form,  in  no  one  has  the  poetic  faculty  attained 
such  a  free  and  plastic  grace  of  expression,  while  retain 
ing  that  antique  symmetry  which  always  suggests  repose. 

The  secret  of  this  excellence  is  to  be  found  in  the 
history  of  his  life.  Like  Linnaeus  and  Thorwaldsen,  he 
sprang  directly  from  the  people — from  the  simple,  sturdy, 
vigorous  level  of  the  Scandinavian  race.  His  grand 
father  was  a  "  bonde  gud  "  of  the  Thorsten  Vikingsson 
stamp  :  he  fought  under  Charles  XII,  and  after  the  battle 


FRITHIOF'S  SAGA,  AND  ITS  AUTHOR,      vii 

of  Friedrickshall,  carried  his  sword  and  Bible  home  to  his 
little  farm.  His  wife's  name  was  Ingeborg  :  whether  or 
not  she  was  beautiful,  is  not  stated.  She  bore  fourteen 
children  to  her  Frithiof,  of  whom  seven  or  eight  sons 
inherited  plow  and  sword,  and  the  youngest  of  all,  the 
Bible.  He  became  a  preacher,  took  a  poor  country  con 
gregation,  married  the  daughter  of  another  preacher,  and 
begat,  as  his  fifth  son,  Esaias  Tegner,  the  poet,  who  was 
born  in  the  parsonage  of  Kyrkerud,  on  the  i3th  of  No 
vember,  1782. 

When  the  future  poet  grew  to  be  an  active,  impetu 
ous,  golden-haired  boy  of  ten,  and  his  oldest  brothers, 
Lars  and  Elof,  were  about  to  enter  the  University,  the 
father  died,  leaving  only  the  merest  pittance  for  the 
family.  While  the  poor  widow  sorrowed  in  her  cottage 
behind  the  birchen  avenue  of  Ingrirud,  young  Esaias 
roamed  over  the  country,  digging  for  relics  in  the  old 
Scandinavian  barrows.  This  youthful  vagabondage, 
however,  was  not  to  last  long.  A  friend  of  his  father, 
the  Assessor,  Jacob  Branting,  living  near  Carlstad,  in 
the  province  of  Wermeland,  kindly  offered  a  home  to 
the  boy.  As  the  latter  wrote  a  good  hand,  and  was  a 
rapid  and  correct  reckoner,  he  was  installed  as  a  sort  of 
clerk  to  his  patron,  whom  he  accompanied  on  his  official 
journeys  through  the  province.  One  who  has  seen  the 
lovely  pastoral  scenery  of  Wermeland:  its  green,  secluded 
valleys,  threaded  by  ths  clear,  cold  streams  which  sweep 
down  from  the  distant  Dovrefjeld :  its  superb  birch-trees, 
with  their  g'ant  white  boles,  and  drooping  willowy  boughs : 
its  iron  forges  and  foundries,  dark  forests  of  fir,  rocks  of 
granite  and  porphyry,  glens  of  primeval  wildness,  and 
hills  with  sea-like  glimpses  of  the  Wetter  Lake — whoever 
has  seen  these,  will  easily  understand  how  they  must  have 


viii    FlUTHIOF'S  SAGA,  AND  ITS  AUTHOR. 

stimulated  the  boy's  fancy,  and  assisted  in  the  develop 
ment  of  his  poetic  nature.  Wandering  through  Werme- 
land  as  a  passing  stranger,  I  caught  pictures  which  will 
never  fade  from  my  memoiy.  Even  more  than  on  the 
Sognefjord  of  Norway,  the  locality  of  the  original  Saga 
of  Frithiof,  I  recognized  the  scenery  of  the  poem. 

When  the  boy  first  began  to  rhyme,  no  one  knew. 
He  lisped  in  numbers,  and  all  the  occurrences  of  his  life 
in  Wermeland  turned  themselves  into  poetry.  He  be 
came  a  great  devourer  of  books,  often  tasking  the  patience 
of  his  kind  patron  by  his  complete  abstraction  and  for- 
getfulness  of  his  duties  when  he  once  began  to  read. 
He  not  only  turned  history  and  tradition  into  rhyme, 
but  composed  an  epic  in  Alexandrines,  on  a  heroic 
theme.  This  habit  of  mind  gave  to  his  poetry,  in  later 
years,  its  remarkable  flexibility  and  grace. 

Branting,  while  sincerely  attached  to  the  boy,  (whom 
he  had  intended  to  educate  for  his  own  position,)  soon 
perceived  that  the  latter's  gifts  qualified  him  for  a  more 
important  sphere  of  life.  He  wrote  at  once  to  Capt. 
Lowenhjelm,  in  whose  house  Lars  Tegner  was  tutor, 
begging  that  the  younger  brother  might  be  taken  into 
the  family  and  allowed  to  study  with  the  Captain's  chil 
dren.  His  request  was  granted,  and  the  result  showed 
the  wisdom  of  Branding's  course.  Esaias  learned  Latin 
with  wonderful  rapidity,  attacked  Greek  with  a  zeal  re 
markable  in  a  boy  of  fourteen,  and  secretly  acquired  some 
knowledge  of  English  from  a  volume  of  Ossian.  When 
Lars,  a  few  months  afterwards,  was  offered  a  more  profit 
able  place  as  teacher,  he  made  it  a  condition  that  his 
brother  should  be  allowed  to  accompany  him. 

In  17.97,  therefore,  the  brothers  took  up  their  abode 
in  the  house  of  the  rich  iron-master,  Myhrmann,  in  the 


FRITH  10 F' S  SAGA,  AND  ITS  AUTHOR.       i* 

mountains,  near  Filipstad.  Lars  was  tutor,  and  Esaias 
studied  in  company  with  the  eight  sons  of  the  family. 
There  was  a  fine  library,  especially  rich  in  the  classics. 
Esaias  was  at  once  attracted  by  a  folio  volume,  bound 
in  parchment — an  edition  of  Homer,  printed  at  Basle,  in 
1561.  With  a  limited  knowledge  of  the  Greek  grammar, 
he  undertook  to  read  the  old  poet,  constructing  a  system 
of  interpretation  as  he  advanced.  It  is  stated  that  in  seven 
months,  so  unwearied  was  his  industry,  he  read  the  Iliad 
thrice,  the  Odyssey  twice,  and  Horace,  Virgil,  and  Ovid. 
At  the  same  time,  he  was  endeavoring  to  acquire  Ger 
man,  English  and  French,  not  by  means  of  the  ordinary 
drudgery,  but  by  boldly  commencing  with  the  reading  of 
the  best  authors.  His  progress  was  so  remarkable,  that 
when  Lars  gave  up  his  tutorship,  he  was  competent,  at 
the  age  of  sixteen,  to  take  it  in  his  stead. 

A  year  later  he  entered  the  University  of  Lund, 
Myhrmann  having  generously  agreed  to  share  with 
Branting  the  expense  of  his  education.  He  repaid  their 
generosity  by  a  devotion  to  his  studies  which  would 
have  wrecked  a  frame  unsuppiied  with  the  vigorous 
farmer-blood  of  Sweden.  He  wrote  a  Latin  essay  on 
Anacreon,  received  a  prize  from  a  literary  society  in 
Gottenburg  for  an  Elegy  on  his  brother  Lars,  and  in 
1802,  was  primus  of  the  graduates.  During  the  summer 
of  this  year,  he  was  betrothed,  with  the  consent  of  her 
parents,  to  Anna  Myhrmann,  the  youngest  daughter  of 
his  second  patron.  The  lives  of  few  men  exhibit  such 
evidences  of  trust  and  help  on  the  one  side,  and  grateful, 
ambitious  duty  on  the  other. 

Having  been  appointed  teacher  and  assistant-librarian 
at  Lund — posts  which,  if  slenderly  paid,  at  least  secured 
him  against  want — he  had  more  leisure  for  his  literary 
I* 


x       FRITHIQF'S  SAGA,  AND  ITS  AUTHOR. 

tasks.  He  was  silent,  however,  for  some  years.  A  poem 
which  he  sent  to  the  Swedish  Academy  failed  to  receive 
the  prize,  and  this  circumstance  seems  to  have  either  dis 
gusted  or  depressed  him.  In  other  respects,  his  life  was 
fortunate.  In  1806  his  success  as  a  teacher  enabled  him 
to  marry,  and  in  1810  he  received  the  rank  and  salary 
of  professor.  Shy  and  reticent  as  a  student,  he  became 
self-possessed,  brilliant  in  conversation,  genial  as  a  host, 
and  unreservedly  tender  as  a  husband  and  father.  The 
impulse  which  was  to  make  him  the  national  poet,  soon 
returned  with  the  happy  development  of  his  fortunes. 
The  poem  of  "  Svea,"  sent  to  the  Academy  in  1811, 
not  only  received  the  highest  prize,  but  was  read  and 
recited  all  over  the  land.  He  was  received  in  Stockholm 
with  great  enthusiasm,  and  while  there,  published  several 
lyrics  which  still  further  increased  his  popularity.  The 
King  appointed  him  clergyman  of  two  parishes  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Lund,  and  to  this  new  vocation,  although 
he  appears  not  to  have  originally  desired  it,  he  consci 
entiously  devoted  a  great  portion  of  his  time,  visiting  his 
parishioners  and  assisting  them  with  counsel  or  active 
kindness. 

For  many  years,  Tegner's  life  was  uninterruptedly 
calm  and  fortunate.  In  the  possession  of  an  ample  in 
come,  burdened  only  with  congenial  duties,  happy  in 
his  domestic  and  social  relations,  and  with  full  leisure 
for  the  enjoyment  of  his  literary  tastes,  the  years,  as  they 
went  by,  gave  instead  of  taking  away.  Each  of  his 
poems  was  caught  up  gratefully  and  echoed  throughout 
the  nation,  on  its  appearance.  In  1814  he  published 
"  Nore,"  written  after  the  conclusion  of  the  Treaty  of 
Kiel:  in  iSao,  "The  Children  of  the  Lord's  Supper," 
(of  which  Mr.  Longfellow  has  made  an  admirable  trans- 


FRITHIOFS  SAGA,  AND  ITS  AUTHOR.       xi 

lation,)  and  in  the  following  year,  the  lyrical  romance 
of  "  Axel."  *  About  the  same  time,  the  last  nine  chap 
ters  of  Frithiof's  Saga  were  published,  in  advance  of  the 
complete  poem,  in  a  literary  periodical  called  "  Iduna" 
and  the  reception  accorded  to  them  determined  the  im 
mediate  publication  of  the  entire  work. 

The  incentive  which  led  Tegner  to  seek  for  the  ma 
terial  of  his  chief  poetical  essay  in  the  Saga-literature  of 
the  North,  was  undoubtedly  given  by  the  Danish  poet, 
Oehlenschlager,  whose  "  Hakon  Jarl "  appeared  as  early 
as  1807.  To  the  latter  is  due  the  credit  of  being  the 
pioneer  in  a  path  leading — as  the  authors  and  scholars 
of  that  time  considered — into  a  rough,  stormy  wilderness, 
peopled  with  savage  and  repulsive  forms.  The  European 
struggle  between  the  Classic  and  Romantic,  assumed  an 
individual  character  in  Denmark  and  Sweden.  In  spite 
of  Oehleuschliiger's  success,  the  prevalent  opinion  was 
that  the  Gothic  element  was  too  stubborn,  violent  and 
barbarous  to  be  subdued  to  the  service  of  Poetry. 
Tegner's  tastes  as  a  scholar  might  have  inclined  him  to 
the  Classic  view,  had  they  not  been  balanced  by  his 
intense  national  feeling,  his  early  fondness  for  Northern 
tradition,  and  his  passionate  love  for  the  skies  and  land 
s-capes  of  his  home.  The  publication  of  Oehlenschliiger's 
"  Helge,"  (I  believe  in  the  year  1820,)  awoke  in  him  the 
desire  to  achieve  a  permanent  triumph  in  what  was  still 
considered  a  doubtful  field.  His  patriotism  prompted 
and  upheld  his  genius 

The  old  Icelandic  Saga  of  Fridthiofe  Fraekna  (Frithiof 
the  Bold),  furnished  him  with  a  theme  most  congenial  to 

*  This  poem  has  been  very  correctly  and  beautifully 
translated  into  English  by  Mrs.  George  P.  Marsh. 


xii     FRITHIOF' S  SAGA,  AND  ITS  AUTHOR. 

his  heroic  nature.  Love,  combat,  sorrow,  storm  on  the 
blue  billows,  trysts  in  the  green  grove,  exile  and  longing 
for  the  fatherland,  guilt  and  expiation,  triumph  and  crown 
ing  peace,  were  here  all  offered  to  his  hand.  The  prin 
cipal  liberties  which  he  has  taken  with  the  original  story, 
are  in  making  King  Ring  die  by  the  "  spear-death," — 
the  runes  of  Odin,  self-carved  upon  his  breast — instead 
of  the  t:  straw-death,"  and  in  the  rebuilding  of  Balder's 
temple  by  Frithiof,  with  the  reconciliation-scene  which 
follows.  Both  these  changes,  however,  are  in  harmony 
with  the  spirit  of  the  Sagas.  In  the  first  instance  Ring 
heroically  completes  the  recompense  he  offers  to  Frithiof  j 
and  if,  in  the  second  instance,  as  some  critics  aver,  he  has 
given  the  poem  too  modern  and  sentimental  a  conclusion, 
we  must  not  forget  that  the  God  against  whom  Frithiof 
was  guilty  of  sacrilege  was  Balder — the  white,  loving, 
Christ-like  deity  of  the  Scandinavian  Mythology. 

Tegner,  himself,  says  in  a  letter  to  Professor  Ste 
phens  :  "  It  was  never  my  meaning — though  such  seems 
to  have  been  the  opinion  of  many — simply  to  versify  the 
Saga.  The  most  transient  comparison  ought  to  have 
shown,  not  only  that  the  whole  denouement  is  different  in 
the  Poem  and  the  Saga,  but  also  that  several  of  the  Can 
tos  have  a  very  remote  ground  in  the  legend.  *  *  * 
My  object  was  to  present  a  poetical  picture  of  the  old 
Northern  heroic  age.  It  was  not  Frithiof,  as  an  individ 
ual,  whom  I  meant  to  paint :  it  was  the  epoch  of  which 
he  was  chosen  as  the  representative.  It  is  true  that  I 
preserved,  in  this  respect,  the  shell  and  outline  of  the  tra 
dition,  but,  at  the  same  time,  I  thought  myself  entitled  to 
add  or  to  take  away,  just  as  was  most  convenient  for  my 
plan." 

Tegner  was  certainly  right  in   adding  to  Frithiof,  for 


FRITIIIOF'S  SAGA,  AND  ITS  AUTHOR,     xiii 

instance,  a  characteristic  which  does  not  appear  in  the 
Saga,  yet  which  is  an  integral  part  of  the  Scandinavian 
nature — that  grave,  semi-melancholy  quality  which  sets 
the  songs  of  the  land  to  the  minor  key,  which  softens, 
but  never  clouds,  the  blue  eyes  of  its  people,  which  even 
seems  to  breathe  upon  you  from  the  shade  of  its  forests 
and  the  dark,  forbidding  loneliness  of  its  mountain-glens. 
If,  in  some  respects,  Frithiof  is  slightly  modernized,  at 
least  he  is  of  pure  Norse  blood.  Whatever  has  been 
added  to  the  poem  has  been  taken  from  Jcindred  sources. 
Thus  the  Viking-Code,  in  Canto  XV,  is  to  be  found  in 
the  Voluspa,,  and  a  part  of  Canto  II  in  the  Havamal. 
In  this  respect,  the  work  is  consistent  throughout.  The 
author  must  have  resisted  a  strong  temptation,  when, 
after  bearing  the  outlawed  Viking  to  the  islands  of  the 
Grecian  Archipelago,  he  shows  the  reader,  in  but  a  sin 
gle  line,  the  temples  reflected  in  the  tideless  wave,  and 
then  turns  his  face  again  to  the  North. 

In  regard  to  the  metrical  treatment  of  the  poem, 
Tegner  says :  "  The  most  suitable  method  seemed  to 
me,  to  resolve  the  epic  form  into  free  lyric  ballads.  I 
had  the  example  of  Oehl^nschlager,  in  his  '  Helge,1  be 
fore  me,  and  have  since  found  that  it  has  been  followed 
by  others.  It  carries  with  it  the  advantage  of  enabling 
me  to  change  the  metre  in  accordance  with  the  contents 
of  every  separate  song.  Thus,  for  instance,  I  doubt 
whether  '  Ingeborg's  Lament'  (Canto  IX)  could  be 
given  in  any  language  in  hexameters,  or  iambic  penta 
meters,  whether  rhymed  or  not.  I  am  well  aware  that 
many  regard  this  as  opposed  to  the  epic  unity,  which  is, 
however,  so  nearly  allied  to  monotony ;  but  I  regard  such 
unity  as  more  than  sufficiently  compensated  by  the  freer 
room  and  fresher  changes  gained  by  its  abandonment. 


xiv    FRITHIOF'S  SAGA,  AND  ITS  AUTHOR. 

Just  this  liberty,  however,  to  be  properly  employed,  re 
quires  so  much  the  more  thought,  understanding,  and 
taste  ;  for  with  every  separate  piece  one  must  endeavor  to 
find  the  exactly  suitable  form — a  thing  not  always  ready 
to  one's  hand  in  the  language.  It  is  for  this  reason  that 
I  have  attempted  (with  greater  or  less  success)  to  imitate 
several  metres,  especially  from  the  poets  of  antiquity. 
Thus  the  pentameter  iambic,  hyper-catalectic  in  the 
third  foot  (Canto  II) — the  six-footed  iambic  (XIV) — . 
the  Aristophanic  anapests  (XV) — the  trochaic  tetra 
meter  (XVI) — and  the  tragic  senarius  (XXIV) — were 
scarcely,  if  at  all,  heard  of  in  Swedish,  previous  to  my 
attempts." 

Perhaps  it  would  have  been  better  for  Tegner  if  he 
had  followed  "  Helge  "  more  closely — varying  the  metre, 
as  the  changes  of  the  theme  suggested,  without  insisting 
on  discovering  a  separate  measure  for  every  canto. 
Nothing  can  be  more  admirable  than  some  of  his  adapta 
tions,  but  in  other  instances  the  reader  feels  that  some 
thing  has  been  sacrificed  to  the  form.  Where  he  has  in 
troduced  antique  metres,  as  he  mentions  above,  he  has 
been  guided  by  a  correct  judgment.  The  lithe  limbs  of 
the  Swedish  language  seem  to  move  very  naturally  and 
gracefully  through  these  alien  dances.  But  in  Cantos  III 
and  IV  one  feels  the  difficulty  of  reading  a  narrative 
poem  by  such  broken  and  irregular  steps.  It  was  a 
happy  thought  to  introduce  the  alliterative  Saga  measure 
in  "  Ring's  Drapa."  Here  the  lines  move  with  a  solemn 
and  stately  freedom  which  it  is  quite  impossible  to  repro 
duce  in  a  translation.  The  iambic  hexameter  of  the 
concluding  canto  is  not,  as  Mr.  Blackley  asserts  in  his 
preface,  an  "  uncouth  metre."  In  the  German  language 
it  is  frequently  and  successfully  employed,  and  there  is 


FRITHIOF'S  SAGA,  AND  ITS  AUTHOR,      xv 

no  reason  why  it  should  not  be  introduced  into  English 
poetry. 

I  am  unable  to  ascertain  the  precise  time  when  the 
first  complete  edition  of  "  Frithiofs  Saga"  was  pub 
lished.  The  second  edition,  which  I  possess,  bears  the 
imprint  of  i8z5,  and  Stephens  asserts  that  the  first  was 
published  the  same  year.  Bishop  Franz6n,  however,  in 
his  Life  of  the  poet,  says  that  the  popularity  which  the 
poem  acquired  was  one  of  the  causes  which  led  to  Teg- 
ncfs  appointment  as  Bishop  of  Wexio,  in  the  year  1824. 
In  the  same  year  he  was  made  Knight  Commander  of 
the  North  Star.  Thus  evenly  and  securely  had  his  life 
advanced,  from  step  to  step  of  success,  and  at  this  height 
rested.  Although  but  forty-two  years  of  age,  his  pro 
ductive  activity  as  a  poet  ceased.  Probably  the  graver 
duties  of  his  new  station,  which  he  fulfilled  not  only  with 
dignity  but  with  conspicuous  success,  led  him  away  from 
the  seductions  of  Song.  "  Axel "  was  written  during 
the  idle  convalescence  which  followed  a  severe  illness  ; 
"  Frithiofs  Saga "  was  the  suggestion  of  a  fortunate 
spirit  of  emulation  ;  and,  although  he  planned  a  new 
metrical  romance,  "  Gerda,"  some  fragments  of  which 
were  published,  he  gave  little  to  the  world,  from  this 
time,  except  an  occasional  lyric. 

It  is  also  possible  that  the  change  from  Lund,  with  its 
scholastic  atmosphere,  fresh,  joyous  student-life  and  ge 
nial,  stimulating  society,  to  the  dead  quiet  and  solitude 
of  Wexio,  operated  depressingly  upon  his  powers.  He 
could  not  carry  with  him  the  plain  room,  where  his  dog 
Atis,  who  never  aeglected  one  of  his  lectures  on  Greek 
literature,  lay  at  the  threshold  and  warned  off  all  in 
truders  when  there  were  signs  of  poetry  in  his  master ; 
nor  could  the  latter  take  with  him  the  track  worn  in  the 


xvi    FRITHIOF'S  SAG-A,  AND  ITS  AUTHOR. 

floor,  where,  hour  after  hour,  he  slowly  paced  out  his 
melodious  lines.  Perhaps,  like  Campbell,  he  grew  afraid 
of  the  shadow  which  his  sudden  and  undisputed  fame 
cast  before  him,  doubting  whether  he  could  surpass  his 
previous  productions,  and  fearing  to  undo  their  effect. 

The  last  triumph  of  his  life  was  in  another  field  than 
literature.  A  national  Convention  of  the  Clergy  was 
held  at  Wexio  in  the  year  1836.  Bishop  Tegner  pre 
sided,  and  produced,  no  less  by  his  earnest,  noble  pres 
ence,  than  by  his  eloquence,  the  profoundest  impression 
upon  the  assembly.  In  character  and  influence,  at  least, 
he  became  the  acknowledged  head  of  the  Swedish 
Church.  In  his  place  in  the  Legislative  Assembly  cf  the 
kingdom  he  seems  to  have  been  less  successful.  The 
heated  political  discussions  in  which  he  was  forced  to 
take  part  troubled  his  cheerful,  serene  natural  mood,  and 
made  him  bitter  and  petulant. 

Before  this  time,  symptoms  of  physical  disorder  had 
manifested  themselves.  In  1833  he  was  forced  to  make 
a  journey  to  the  mineral  springs  of  Bohemia,  from  which 
he  returned  without  the  expected  improvement  in  his 
health.  His  bodily  condition  operated  on  his  mind,  and 
filled  him  with  gloomy  forebodings.  "  God  preserve  me 
my  reason  ! "  he  wrote  at  this  time  \  "  there  is  a  streak  of 
insanity  in  my  family.  In  my  case  it  has  manifested 
itself  in  poetry,  which  is  a  milder  form  of  the  disease  5 
but  who  knows  whether  I  shall  always  be  exempt  from  u 
severer  attack  ? "  Unfortunately,  his  fears  were  soon  to 
be  justified.  An  incautious  use  of  the  "douche"  bath 
brought  on  symptoms  of  apoplexy,  after  which  it  was 
noticed  that  his  mind  occasionally  wandered.  He  pro 
jected  extensive  travels,  the  publication  of  numerous 
works,  and  indulged  in  other  plans  of  similar  character. 


FRITUIOF'S  SAGA,  AND  ITS  AUTHOR,     xvii 

It  was  about  this  time,  I  believe,  that  Mr.  Longfellow 
received  a  letter  from  him,  announcing  that  a  complete 
edition  of  his  works  was  shortly  to  appear,  in  one  hun 
dred  volumes  !  He  complained  that  a  wheel  of  fire 
seemed  to  be  constantly  turning  within  his  brain. 

Finally,  in  1838  or  1839,  he  was  sent,  by  the  advice 
of  physicians,  to  the  Asylum  for  the  Insane,  at  Schles- 
wig.  Here  he  soon  recovered,  returned  home,  and  re 
sumed  the  labors  of  his  diocese,  which  he  performed 
until  the  year  1845.  He  was  t^ien  forced  to  apply  for  a 
release  :  a  quiet,  phlegmatic  condition  had  supplanted  his 
former  nervous  excitement,  and  he  gradually  grew  weak 
er,  both  in  intellect  and  in  body.  Some  instinct  of  his 
approaching  end  led  him  to  visit  his  children  and  grand 
children  at  Lund,  and  afterwards,  kneeling  beside  his 
faithful  wife  in  the  church  at  Kjellstorp,  to  receive  the 
Sacrament  from  the  hands  of  his  son.  Then  he  returned 
home,  to  hide  from  the  world  the  slow  decay  of  his 
faculties.  In  September,  1846,  an  attack  of  paralysis 
completely  prostrated  his  remaining  physical  force.  He 
was  thenceforth  confined  to  his  bed,  and  utterly  helpless, 
yet  his  voice  regained  its  former  strength  and  his  clouded 
mind  became  clear  and  sound  again.  As  the  autumn 
sun  shone  into  his  chamber,  he  exclaimed  :  "  I  lift  my 
hands  to  the  mountains  and  the  dwelling  of  God  ! " 

At  midnight  on  the  id  of  November,  while  the 
northern  sky  glowed  with  splendid  auroral  fires,  his  life 
gradually  ceased,  and  so  gently  that  the  widow  kneeling 
at  his  bedside  could  not  detect  the  moment  of  death. 
The  moonlight,  falling  upon  his  face,  revealed  the  peace 
ful  beauty  which  a  pure  and  happy  spirit  leaves  upon  its 
forsaken  clay. 

We  cannot  claim  for  Tegner  the  place  which  belongs 


xviii   FRITHIOF 'S  SAGA,  AND  ITS  AUTHOR. 

to  a  great  creative  intellect.  His  genius  was  essentially 
lyrical,  and  it  is  due  to  the  fortunate  circumstances  of  his 
life  that  he  stands  forth  so  prominently  as  a  representa 
tive  poet.  Probably  no  other  Swedish  poet  lias  so  devel 
oped  and  enriched  the  language  ;  none  other  has  so  com 
bined  the  opposite  qualities  of  freedom  and  artistic  finish. 
His  lines  and  couplets  cling  to  the  memory  like  those  of 
Byron.  There  are  passages,  like  the  parting  of  Frithiof 
and  Ingeborg,  and  Frithiof 's  Return,  which  almost  every 
educated  Swede  knows  by  heart.  I  have  rarely  quoted  a 
line  of  the  poem,  while  in  Sweden,  without  finding  some 
one  to  continue  the  quotation.  The  author  seems  to 
have  been  unconscious  of  the  undefinable  melodious 
beauty  which  his  poems  possess.  He  was  surprised  at 
their  great  popularity,  and  on  one  occasion  said  :  "  I  had 
no  idea  that  my  poetry  would  become  so  available" 

The  source  of  his  popularity  will  be  found,  I  think, 
in  three  qualities  which  his  poems  exhibit :  their  exquisite 
melody,  their  brilliant  antithetic  passages,  and  the  perfect 
purity  and  clearness  of  their  language.  "  The  Swede," 
says  Tegner  himself,  "  like  the  Frenchman,  prefers  in 
poetry  the  light,  the  clear,  and  the  transparent.  The 
profound,  indeed,  he  demands  and  values  also,  but  it 
must  be  a  depth  that  is  pellucid.  He  desires  to  see  the' 
golden  sands  at  the  bottom  of  the  wave.  Whatever  is  \ 
dark  and  turbid,  so  that  it  does  not  present  him  with  any 
distinct  image,  that  he  cannot  endure."  Again,  in  his 
"  Epilogue,"  spoken  at  Lund  in  1820,  he  says  : 

"  What  thou  not  clearly  speak'st,  that  know'st  thou  not. 
Twin-born  upon  the  lips  are  thought  and  word  : 
Obscurely  spoken  is  obscurely  thought." 

In  his  collection  of  epigrams  entitled  "  The  Languages," 


FRITHIOF'8  SAGA,  AND  ITS  A  U THOU,     xix 

although  he  shows  an  imperfect  knowledge  of  English 
by  calling  it  "  the  speech  of  stammerers,"  he  thus  cele 
brates  the  resonant  strength  of  the  Swedish  tongue  : 

"  Language  of  honor  and  conquest,  how  manly  thy  accents, 

and  noble  ! 

Ring'st  like  the  smitten  steel,  and  mov'st  like  the  march 
of  the  planets." 

In  his  hands  the  praise  is  hardly  exaggerated.  It 
would  be  difficult  to  find  more  perfect  examples,  both  of 
melody  and  of  imitative  harmony,  in  any  modern  tongue, 
than  his  poems  offer.  In  the  wail  of  the  winds  and  the 
broken  dash  of  the  billows  in  "  Ingeborg's  Lament,"  the 
shifting  hurry  and  movement  of  Ellida's  struggle  with 
the  storm,  and  the  bright,  joyous  pulsations  of  spring 
which  beat  in  the  opening  of  '•"  Frithiof 's  Temptation," 
we  have  an  admirable  marriage  of  the  thought  and  the 
rhythm.  Tegner's  gifts,  therefore,  though  not  of  the 
highest,  were  of  a  very  high  and  rare  quality.  They 
illustrate  the  finest  characteristics  of  his  language  and 
race,  and  cannot  perish  while  either  exists. 

Tegner  was  a  man  of  medium  size,  slender  in  his 
youth,  but  firm  and  compact  of  frame  later  in  life.  He 
had  a  graceful  and  symmetrical  head,  curling  blonde 
hair,  fresh  complexion,  and  clear,  beautiful  brown  eyes. 
His  nose  was  straight  and  strong,  the  chin  small  but  well 
rounded,  and  a  peculiar  half-smile  played  about  the  cor 
ners  of  his  lips.  It  was  a  frank,  honest,  kindly  face, 
sometimes  abstracted  or  overcast  with  the  Northern  sad 
ness,  but  oftener  lighted  up  by  the  cheerfulness  of  a 
nature  which  rejoiced  in  its  appointed  work  and  attracted 
to  itself  the  best  fortune  of  life.  He  was  witty  and  bril 
liant  in  society,  and  many  of  his  remarks  and  repartees 


xx      FRITHIOF'S  SAGA,  AND  ITS  AUTHOR. 

are  still  in  circulation  in  Sweden.  Few  poets,  in  any 
land,  have  found  the  world  so  kindly  disposed  towards 
them,  or  have  left  behind  them  a  more  serene  and  pleas 
ant  memory. 

B.  T. 
October,  1866. 


THE    ENGLISH    TRANSLATIONS 

OF 

FRITHIOF'S    SAGA. 


THE  translation  of  a  poem,  the  charm  of  which  de 
pends  equally  upon  its  form  and  subject,  must  reproduce 
the  form  as  nearly  as  possible.  Whether  this  may  be 
best  accomplished  by  a  rigid  adherence  to  the  rhythms  of 
the  original,  or  by  such  variations  as  the  language  of  the 
translation  suggests,  is  a  question  which  the  translator 
must  solve  by  his  own  skill,  knowledge,  and  taste. 
Frithiof 's  Saga  offers  many  difficulties  in  this  respect,  and 
of  all  the  English  translations  which  have  been  published, 
none  will  satisfy  the  Swedish  reader. 

Mr.  Longfellow  has  given  us  some  parts  of  the  poem 
so  admirably  in  his  article  on  Tegn6r,*  that  it  is  to  be 
regretted  he  did  not  undertake  a  complete  translation. 
A  poet  can  only  be  properly  translated  by  a  poet,  and 
none  of  the  English  versions  which  have  appeared  fulfil 
this  condition.  Although  the  Swedish  language  resem- 

*  North  American  Review,  No.  CXVI.     July,  1837. 

(xxi) 


xxii  THE  ENGLISH  TRANSLATIONS 

bles  the  English  in  the  simplicity  of  its  structure  and  in 
its  splendid  lyrical  qualities,  it  is  richer  in  feminine 
rhymes,  and  abounds  with  terse  idiomatic  forms  which 
cannot  easily  be  transferred.  Here  the  Germans,  being 
more  nearly  related,  have  succeeded  better.  The  trans 
lations  of  Amalie  von  Imhof,  Mohnicke,  and,  more 
recently,  Lobedanz,  are  all  tolerably  successful  reproduc 
tions  of  the  original,  which,  through  them,  has  become 
completely  naturalized  in  Germany. 

The  first  English  translation  of  FrithioPs  Saga  was 
published  by  the  Rev.  William  Strong,  in  1833.  This 
was  followed,  two  years  afterwards,  by  an  anonymous 
attempt,  the  work  of  three  or  four  hands.  I  have  not 
seen  the  latter,  but  the  oblivion  into  which  it  has  passed 
is  not  indicative  of  success.  In  1838,  Mr.  R.  G.  La 
tham,  since  distinguished  by  his  ethnological  works,  pub 
lished  a  translation,  or  rather  paraphrase,  in  London. 
Even  were  its  execution  faultless,  the  liberties  which  he 
has  taken  with  the  original  would  preclude  its  being 
adopted  as  a  fair  representation  of  the  latter.  He  not 
only  changes  the  heroine's  name  from  Ingeborg  to  Inge- 
bore,  but  pays  so  little  attention  to  the  Swedish  metres 
that  they  can  only  be  found  in  seven  out  of  the  twenty- 
four  cantos.  He  changes  hexameter  into  heroic  verse, 
dactylic  into  iambic,  blank  verse  into  rhyme,  with  no 
rule  save  his  own  whim. 

Here  and  there  Mr.  Latham  has  some  very  spirited 
lines,  and  the  whole  of  "  Frithiof  at  Sea "  is  faithfully 
and  successfully  given.  In  the  "  Parting,"  however,  he 
omits  a  portion,  on  the  plea  that  it  is  "  in  no  degree  suit 
ed  to  the  English  poem "  !  Moreover,  his  volume  is 
marred  by  so  many  faults  of  rhyme  and  metre — points 
wherein  Tegn6r  is  always  perfect — that  it  cannot  be  read 


OF  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA.  xxiii 

with  satisfaction  even  by  one  unacquainted  with  the 
original. 

The  translation  of  Prof.  George  Stephens  (London 
and  Stockholm,  1839),  w^°  was  a  personal  friend  of  the 
poet,  is  a  very  conscientious  and  laborious  work.  The 
measure  has  been  retained,  except  in  the  first,  second, 
and  last  cantos,  and  the  translator's  thorough  knowledge 
of  Swedish  has  enabled  him  carefully  to  express  the  au 
thor's  meaning.  But  the  free,  plastic  movement  of  the 
original  is  wholly  wanting  ;  the  English  verse  is  hope 
lessly  stiff  and  unmusical.  Tegn6r's  liquid-flowing 

"  Liksom  en  hjdm  sin  rttndd  hvalfver" 
can  scarcely  be  recognized  in 

"  As  Heaven's  soft  breeze  its  arched  round  bends." 

This  single  specimen  will  sufficiently  show  that  some 
thing  more  is  requisite  than  reproduction  of  an  author's 
meaning  and  adherence  to  his  measures,  in  order  to  trans 
fer  the  true  spirit  and  character  of  a  poem  into  another 
language. 

The  translation  of  the  Rev.  William  L.  Blackley 
(Dublin,  1857)  preserves  all  the  original  metres,  except 
that  masculine  are  generally  substituted  for  feminine 
rhymes,  and  the  law  of  alliteration  in  Canto  XXI 
("Ring's  Drapa")  is  disregarded.  Mr.  Blackley,  while 
condemning  the  iambic  hexameter  of  the  concluding 
Canto,  nevertheless  does  not  venture  to  change  it,  like 
Messrs.  Latham  and  Stephens.  Moreover,  his  verses  are 
much  more  fluent  than  those  of  either  of  the  latter  gen 
tlemen,  his  chief  short-coming  being  that  he  too  fre 
quently  gives  us  rather  tame  and  commonplace  English 


xxiv  THE  ENGLISH  TRANSLATIONS 

lines  for  the  poetic  fire  and  sparkle  of  the  Swedish  origi 
nals.  Thus,  in  Canto  XII,  the  beautiful  lines  : 

"  Och  glddtigt  skj liter  hans  svarta  svan 
Sin  silfverfara  pa  solblank  ban" 

become,  in  his  translation, 

"  And  gayly  his  sable  swan  doth  make 
On  her  glassy  course  a  silvery  wake." 

A  closer  adherence  to  the  original  text  would  give  us 
more  of  the  music — as  thus,  at  a  venture  : 

"  And  the  joyous  speed  of  his  black  swan  gave 
A  silver  wake  to  the  sun-bright  wave." 

So,  in  the  "  Inheritance/'  the  terse  Homeric  picturesque- 
ness  of  "  Springare  t--va  ganger  tolfy  bangstyrigatfjettrade 
<vindar"  (steeds  twice  twelve,  impatient,  fettered  winds,) 
is  rather  weakly  given  in  the  line  : 

"  Twice  twelve  spirited  steeds,  like  terrible  winds  in  con 
finement." 

This  Canto  is  very  well  rendered  by  Mr.  Stephens,  while 
in  Mr.  Latham's  translation  it  is  hardly  to  be  recognized. 
As  Frithiof 's  Saga  consists,  in  reality,  of  twenty-four 
ballads,  it  might  be  possible  to  combine  selections  from 
the  different  translators,  and  thus  obtain  a  composite  ver 
sion,  in  some  respects  superior  to  any  single  attempt.  On 
examining  the  translations,  however,  with  special  refer 
ence  to  this  plan,  I  found  the  two  former  so  deficient  in 
poetic  quality,  that  their  occasional  vigor  would  have 
scarcely  compensated  for  the  break  in  the  smoother  flow 
of  Mr.  Blackley's  translation.  The  latter,  as  a  whole,  is 


OF  FRITIIIOF'S  SAGA.  xxv 

greatly  the  superior,  and  I  prefer,  therefore,  to  present  it 
intact,  adding  only  the  few  notes  which  have  been  sug 
gested  by  a  close  comparison  with  the  original. 

The  notes,  explanatory  of  the  old  Scandinavian  cus 
toms  and  mythological  names,  follow  the  poem. 

B.  T. 


ABSTRACT 


OF   THE 


ANCIENT     FRITHIOF-SAGA. 


IN  Sognefylke,  near  the  holy  grove  of  Balder,  dwelt 
King  Bele  5  two  sons  had  he,  Helge  and  Halfdan,  and 
moreover  a  daughter,  Ingeborg  the  Fair.  When  he 
came  to  die,  Bele  warned  his  sons  to  keep  up  friendship 
with  the  mighty  Frithiof,  a  son  of  his  friend  Thorsten, 
who  was  the  son  of  Viking.  But  the  young  kings 
refused  scornfully  Frithiof's  wooing  for  their  sister's 
hand,  and  so  he  vowed  revenge,  and  that  he  never 
would  come  to  their  assistance. 

Soon  after,  it  came  to  pass  that,  when  King  Hring 
made  war  against  them,  they  sent  to  ask  aid  from 
Frithiof:  he  was  playing  chess,  and  let  himself  not  be 
one  whit  disturbed  by  their  messenger. 

Hring  conquered,  and  made  the  brothers  promise 
Ingeborg' s  hand  to  him. 

Meanwhile  Frithiof  had  gone  to  see  Ingeborg  in 
Balder' s  temple  (which  was  a  forbidden  deed),  and  there 

(x.xvi) 


THE  ANCIENT  F1UTHIOF-SA  OA .         x xvii 

he  exchanged  rings  with  her  j  for  to  him  the  love  of 
Ingeborg  was  far  weightier  matter  than  the  favor  of 
Balder. 

To  punish  him  for  this  contempt  of  the  shrine  of 
Balder,  the  kings  laid  upon  Frithiof  the  task  of  going  to 
the  Faroes,  and  demanding  a  tribute.  So  Frithiof,  with 
his  foster-brother,  set  sail  in  the  ship  Ellida,  the  best  in 
all  the  North  ;  a  ship  which  all  said  could  understand 
the  voice  of  men.  All  in  the  midst  of  the  storm  Frith 
iof  spoke  of  his  Ingeborg.  At  last,  when  the  good  ship 
was  near  sinking,  he  hewed  Ingeborg's  ring  in  pieces, 
that  his  men  might  not  want  gold  when  they  went  down 
to  Rana's  dwelling  (she  was  goddess  of  the  Sea).  After 
wards,  when  they  had  overcome  a  pair  of  storm-sprites, 
which  rode  on  whales  against  them,  the  storm  sank 
down,  and  they  approached  the  Faroes,  where  Yarl  An- 
gantyr  let  him  take  the  tribute  for  friendship's  sake,  and 
so  he  departed. 

When  he  came  back,  he  heard  that  the  kings  had 
burned  his  dwelling,  and  that  they  were  just  then  at  the 
midsummer  feast  in  the  grove  of  Balder.  Thither  he 
went,  and  found  few  folk  within  ;  but  Helge's  queen  sat 
there,  warming  the  image  of  the  god,  anointing  it,  and 
rubbkig  it  with  cloths. 

Frithiof  flung  the  purse  with  the  money  in  Helge's 
face,  so  that  his  very  teeth  fell  out ;  and  then  he  was 
going  away,  when  he  beheld  the  ring  he  had  given  to 
Ingeborg  on  the  arm  of  Helge's  queen.  He  dragged  it 
from  her  with  such  might  that  she  fell  upon  the  ground, 
Balder's  image  was  thrown  into  the  fire,  and  the  whole 
temple  set  in  flame.  King  Helge  sought  to  pursue 
Frithiof,  but  his  ships  had  been  made  useless.  Frithiof, 
just  to  show  his  strength,  drew  such  a  stroke  with  Elh- 


xxviii       THE  ANCIENT  FRITHIOF-SAGA. 

da's  oars   (which  were  twelve  ells  long),  that  they  both 
brake  asunder. 

Now  Frithiof  remained  an  outcast ;  so  he  took  to  the 
ocean,  and  he  slew  the  fierce  sea-kings,  but  let  the  mer 
chants  fare  in  peace.  And  so,  when  he  had  gained  great 
glory  and  wealth,  he  hied  him  back  again  to  the  North, 
and  went,  disguised  as  a  salt-burner,  to  the  palace  of 
King  Hring.  Hring  knew  him,  and,  pitying  his  sad 
tale,  commanded  that  he  should  be  set  in  the  most  hon 
orable  seat.  Queen  Ingeborg  spake  but  little  with  him. 
Once,  when  Hring  and  Ingeborg  were  driving  over  the 
ice,  it  broke  beneath  them  ;  Frithiof  came  with  speed 
and  dragged  them  up  again,  with  sleigh  and  horse  and 
all.  Another  day  Frithiof  and  the  king  went  out  to 
gether  into  a  wood,  and  the  king  laid  him  down  to 
sleep  5  then  Frithiof  drew  his  sword,  and  threw  it  away. 
Then  the  king  told  him  how  that  he  had  known  from 
the  first  evening  who  he  was.  Then  Frithiof  wished  to 
go  away ;  but  Hring  gave  up  Ingeborg  to  him,  and 
made  him,  under  the  title  of  Earl,  the  guardian  of  his 
heir.  Soon  after  Hring  died  ;  then  Frithiof  married  his 
bride,  and  remained  king.  Helge  and  Halfdan  made 
war  against  him  ;  but  Frithiof  slew  Helge,  and  Halfdan 
had  to  pay  scot  to  him  as  his  lord. 


FRITHIOF'S     SAGA 


(xxix) 


FRITHIOF'S     SAGA. 


FRITHIOF   AND    INGEBORG. 

IN  Hilding's  home  together  grew 
Two  plants  beneath  his  fostering  true  ; 
Two  fairer  never  graced  the  North, 
In  youth's  green  spring-time  budding  forth. 

Strong  as  the  oak,  and  towering  high, 
Straight  as  a  tall  lance  towards  the  sky, 
Its  struggling,  wind-tost  summit  blown, 
Like  helmet-plumes,  so  grew  the  one. 

The  other,  like  the  fragile  rose, 
When  Winter,  parting,  melts  the  snows, 
And  Spring's  sweet  breath  bids  flowers  arise, 
Still  in  the  bud  unconscious  lies. 

(0 


FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

When  o'er  the  earth  the  storms  speed  hoarse, 
The  oak  is  seen  to  brave  their  force  ; 
When  in  the  sky  the  spring-sun  glows 
Open  the  red  lips  of  the  rose  : 

So  grew  they  glad  in  childhood  free, 
And  Frithiof  was  the  sapling  tree  ; 
And  the  sweet  valley-rose  was  there 
In  Ingeborg,  the  young  and  fair. 

Saw'st  thou  the  twain  by  light  of  day, 
In  Freya's  halls  thou'dst  seem  to  stray, 
Where  wanders  many  a  happy  pair, 
With  rosy  wings  and  golden  hair. 

But  saw'st  thou  them  in  moonlit  glade, 
Dancing  beneath  the  forest  shade, 
Thou'dst  think  in  airy  dance  t'  have  seen 
The  fairy  king  and  fairy  queen. 

How  light  his  heart,  how  glad  his  thought, 
When  the  first  Runes  to  him  were  taught ! 
So  proud  no  king  on  earth  was  then, 
Since  he  could  teach  them  her  again. 

O'er  the  blue  deep  he  loved  to  guide 
His  boat,  with  Ingborg  by  his  side  ; 
While  she,  as  sailed  they  to  and  fro, 
Clapped  gleefully  her  hands  of  snow. 


FRITH  10 F  AND   INGEBORG. 

To  gain  for  her,  no  wild  bird's  nest 
Too  high  for  him  was  ever  placed  ; 
Nor  even  could  the  eagle  strong 
Protect  from  him  her  eggs  or  young. 

No  stream,  however  fierce  its  flow, 
He  feared  to  carry  Ingborg  through  ; 
Sweetly,  when  'neath  loud  falls  they  passed, 
Her  little  white  arms  held  him  fast. 

The  first  fair  flower  that  spring-time  bred, 
The  first  wild  berry,  sweet  and  red, 
The  first  ripe  ear  of  golden  corn, 
Faithful  and  glad,  to  her  were  borne. 

But  all  too  soon  sweet  childhood  flew, 
And  Frithiof  to  manhood  grew  ; 
While  to  the  maid  matured,  his  eye 
Beamed  full  of  love's  intensity. 

-Young  Frithiof  often  in  the  field 
Pursued  the  chase,  'gainst  danger  steePd  ; 
Proud,  without  either  sword  or  spear, 
Unarmed,  to  slay  the  grisly  bear. 

He  wrestled  with  him,  breast  to  breast, 
Nor  scatheless  of  his  prize  possessed, 
He  carried  home  the  shaggy  spoil, 
While  Ingborg's  smiles  repnid  his  toil. 


FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

For  woman  loves  a  manly  deed, 
And  beauty's  praise  is  valor's  meed  ; 
The  one  is  suited  for  the  other, 
As  head  and  helmet  matched  together. 

Then,  as  the  winter  evenings  sped, 
Beside  the  hearth  he  sat,  and  read 
Some  lay  of  Odin's  halls  of  light — 
Of  gods  and  goddesses  so  bright. 

Then  thought  he  :  "  Freya's  golden  hair, 
Like  a  ripe  corn-field,  waves  in  air  ; 
But  Ingborg's  tresses  seem  to  hold 
Lily  and  rose  in  net  of  gold. 

"  Iduna's  bosom,  full  and  fair, 
Beats  beneath  silk,  rich,  green,  and  rare  ; 
But  here,  'neath  clearer  silken  folds, 
Its  place  a  fairy  bosom  holds. 

"  And,  like  the  deep,  clear,  azure  sky, 
Beams  lovely  Frigga's  soft  blue  eye  ; 
But  I  know  eyes  whose  gentle  ray 
Eclipses  spring-time's  brightest  day. 

"  And  shines  fair  Gercla's  cheek  alone 
Like  sparkling  snow  'neath  northern  sun  ? 
I  know  of  cheeks,  whose  ruddy  glow 
A  double  dawn  appears  to  show. 


FRITHIOF  AND   INGEBORG. 

"  A  loving  heart  I  know  of,  too, 
Like  gentle  N anna's,  fond  and  true  ; 
Full  worthily,  O  Balder,  \ve 
Praise  still,  in  song,  her  love  for  thee  ! 

"  Gladly  in  death  would  I  be  laid, 
Lamented  by  a  loving  maid, 
As  faithful  and  as  true  as  she, — 
Welcome  were  Hela's  home  to  me." 

King  Bele's  child  of  daring  deeds 
Sate  singing,  while  with  busy  threads 
She  wove  a  tapestry  of  war, 
With  groves,  and  fields,  and  waves  afar. 

Upon  the  snowy  woollen  field 
Grew  glories  of  a  golden  shield  ; 
Blood-red  appeared  the  lances  thrown, 
With  silver  all  the  breastplates  shone. 

Still,  as  she  wove  it,  more  and  more     - 
The  hero  Frithiof 's  likeness  bore  ; 
When  from  the  frame  she  raised  her  head, 
She  blushed  with  shame,  but  still  was  glad. 

And  Frithiof  cut,  on  birch-tree's  stem, 
An  I,  an  F,  where'er  he  came  ; 
And  merrily  the  letters,  too, 
Like  their  young  hearts,  together  grew. 


FRITHIOF  ^S  SAGA. 

When  riseth  up  the  morning  fair, 
The  king  of  earth,  with  golden  hair, 
And  busy  life  begins  to  move, 
Each  on  the  other  thinks  with  love. 

When  night  with  darkness  fills  the  air, 
Mother  of  earth,  with  raven  hair, 
And  silent  stars  are  all  that  move, 
Each  on  the  other  dreams  with  love. 

"  O  Earth,  thou  deck'st  thyself  each  year 
With  flowers  in  thy  leaf-green  hair  ; 
Give  me  the  sweetest,  that  may  shine 
In  richest  wreath  for  Frithiof  mine  ! " 

"  O  Sea,  thy  gloomy  halls  possess 
Bright  pearls  in  thousands  numberless  ; 
Give  me  the  fairest  and  most  clear, 
To  weave  a  chain  for  Ingborg  dear." 

"  O  Peak  of  Odin's  royal  throne, 
Eye  of  the  world,  thou  golden  Sun, 
Did  thy  bright  disc  belong  to  me, 
A  shield  for  Frithiof  it  should  be  ! " 

"  O  Lamp  in  Odin's  halls  of  bliss, 
Pale  Moon,  with  gentle  ray  of  peace, 
Thy  fairest  beams,  if  thou  wert  mine, 
To  deck  my  Ingeborg  should  shine  !  " 


FRITHIOF  AND  INGEBORQ. 

But  Hilding  said  :  "  My  foster-child, 
Check  this  young  fondness,  vain  and  wild  ; 
Unequal  lots  forbid  the  Nome, 
And  royally  is  Ingborg  born. 

"  From  Odin,  in  his  starry  home, 
Her  ancestors  descended  come  ; 
Thou  art  but  Thorsten's  son  ;  forbear, 
Since  but  the  great  should  greatness  share." 

"  My  sires  lie,"  Frithiof  proudly  said, 

"  In  the  dark  valley  of  the  dead  ; 
But  the  falling  wood-king  left  to  me, 
With  his  shaggy  hide,  his  ancestry. 

"  The  free-born  man,  ne'er  yieldeth  he  ; 
The  world  belongeth  to  the  free. 
What  chance  hath  lost,  may  chance  repair, 
And  Hope  a  royal  crown  may  wear. 

""  Full  nobly  born  descendeth  power 

From  the  great  Thrudvang-dwelling  Thor  : 
He  heeds  not  birth,  but  valor  true, 
And  mightily  the  sword  can,  sue. 

"  For  my  young  bride  I'll  combat  now, 
Though  thundering  Thor  should  be  my  foe. 
Bloom  glad,  bloom  true,  my  lily  fair  ; 
He  who  would  part  us  ill  shall  fare  ! " 


II. 

KING  BELE  AND  THORSTEN  VIKINGSSON. 

KING  BELE  in  his  pahce  stood,  on  his  sword 
he  leaned, 

And  by  him  Thorsten  Vikingsson,  his  old,  tried  friend  ; 
The  comrade  \vho  for  eighty  years  his  wars  did  share, 
Scarred  as  a  monument  was  he,  and  white  his  hair. 

So  stand  two  aged  temples,  midst  mountains  high, 
Both  with  age  tottering,  to  ruin  nigh  ; 
Yet  words  of  wisdom  still  on  the  walls  we  see, 
And  on  the  roof  pictures  of  antiquity. 

"  My  day  is  setting  fast,"  King  Bele  said  ; 

"  Tasteless  the  mead  ;  I  feel  the  helmet's  weight ; 
Dim  are  my  glazing  eyes  to  mortal  state, 
But  Valhall'  dawns  more  near  ;  I  feel  my  fate. 

"  So  my  two  sons,  with  thine,  I've  called  to  me  ; 

Together  they're  united,  as  have  been  we  ; 
(8) 


KING   VELE  AND    VIKINGSSON.  9 

Once  more  to  warn  the  young  birds  am  I  fain, 
Ere  from  a  dead  man's  tongue  all  words  be  vain." 

Then  to  the  hall  they  entered  in,  as  he  had  willed  : 
The  elder,  Helge,  whose  dark  brow  with  gloom  was 

filled  ; 

His  days  in  temples  spent  he,  with  spaemen  hoary, 
And  now  from  sacrificing  came,  his  hands  still  gory. 

Then  came  the  younger,  Haliclan,  with  flaxen  hair  ; 
His  countenance  was  noble,  but  soft  and  fair  ; 
As  if  in  sport,  a  heavy  falchion  bearing, 
Like  a  young  maid  a  warrior's  armor  wearing. 

And  last,  in  azure  mantle,  came  Frithiof  tall, 
By  a  full  head  in  stature  outmeasuring  them  all  ; 
He  stood  between  the  brothers  as  glorious  day 
Stands  between  rosy  dawning  and  twilight  gray. 


«  TV 


My   children,"    quoth    the    king,     "  my    day    doth 

wane  ; 

Rule  in  fraternal  peace,  in  union  reign  ; 
For  union,  like  the  ring  upon  the  spear, 
Makes  strong  what,  wanting  it,  were  worthless  gear. 

"  Let  Vigour  be  your  country's  sentinel, 
And  blooming  Peace  within  securely  dwell ; 
To  shelter,,  not  to  harm,  your  weapons  wield, 
And  let  your  subjects'  bulwark  be  your  shield. 


io  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

"  An  unwise  ruler  devastates  his  land  ; 
All    monarchs'    might  in    people's    strength    must 

stand  ; 

Soon  the  green  splendor  of  the  tree  is  fled, 
If  from  the  naked  rock  its  roots  be  fed. 

"  Four  pillars  to  uphold  it,  Heaven  doth  own  ; 
Kingdoms  are  based  on  one — on  Law  alone. 
Danger  is  near  where  might  can  sway  the 

Ting; 
Right  guards  the  land,  and  glorifies  the  king. 

"  Helge  !  in  Disarsal  the  gods  do  dwell  ; 
But  not,  like  snails,  within  a  narrow  shell  ; 
Far  as  the  day  can  shine,  or  echo  sound, 
Far  as  the  thought  can  flee,  the  gods  are  found. 

"  Oft  err  the  entrails  of  the  offered  hawk  ; 
False,  though  deep-cut,  is  many  a  Runenbalk  ; 
But  in  the  open  heart  and  honest  eye 
Odin  hath  written  Runes  that  ne'er  can  lie. 

"  Helge  !  be  not  severe — be  firm  alone  ; 
By  bending  most  the  truest  sword  is  known  ; 
Mercy  adorns  a  king,  as  flowers  a  shield  ; 
More  than  all  winter  can  one  spring-day  yield. 

"  A  friendless  man,  however  mighty  he, 
Fadeth  deserted,  like  a  bark-stripped  tree  ; 


KING   BELE  AND    VIKING  SSON.  n 

With  roots  refreshed,  though  fierce  the  storm-winds 

strive, 
By  friendship's  stream  thou  may'st  securely  thrive. 

"  Boast  not  thy  father's  fame — 'tis  his  alone  ; 
A  bow  thou  canst  not  bend  is  scarce  thine  own. 
What  can  a  buried  glory  be  to  thec  ? 
By  its  own  force  the  river  gains  the  sea. 

"  Gladness,  O  Halfdan,  doth  the  wise  adorn  ; 
But  folly,  most  of  all  in  kings,  brings  scorn  ! 
Mix  hops  with  honey,  when  thou  mead  wilt  brew  ; 
Make  thy  sports  sterner,  and  thy  weapon  too. 

"  None  is  too  learned,  however  wise  he  be. 
That  many  knowledge  lack,  too  well  know  we  ; 
Despised  the  witless  sitteth  at  the  feast ; 
The  learned  hath  the  ear  of  every  guest. 

"  To  trusty  comrade,  or  to  friend  in  war, 
Be  thy  way  near,  although  his  home  be  far  ; 
Yet  let  thy  foeman's  house,  where'er  it  lie, 
Be  ever  distant,  though  thou  pass  it  by. 

"  Thy  confidence  to  many  shun  to  give  ; 
Full  barns  we  lock  ;  the  empty,  open  leave  ; 
Choose  one  in  whom  to  trust — more  seek  not  thou  ; 
The   world,    O    Halfdan,   knows   what    three    men 
know  !  " 


12  FRITHIOF*S   SAGA. 

After  the  king  rose  Thorsten.     Thus  spake  he  : 
"  Odin  alone  to  seek  ill  fitteth  thee  ; 
We've  shared  each  hap,   O   king,  our  whole  lives 

through, 
And  death,  I  trust,  we'll  share  together  too. 

"  Full  many  a  warning  Time  hath  whispered  me, 
Son  Frithiof,  which  I  gladly  give  to  thee  ; 
As  on  the  tombstones  high  perch  Odin's  birds, 
So  on  the  lips  of  age  hang  wisdom's  Avords. 

"  Honor  the  gods  ;  for  every  good  and  harm 
Cometh  from  above,  like  sunshine  and  like  storm  ; 
Deep  into  hearts  they  see,  and  many  mourn 
A  lifelong  sorrow  for  one  short  hour's  scorn. 

"  Honor  the  king  !     Let  one  man  rule  with  might ; 
Day  hath  but  one  eye,  many  hath  the  night. 
Let  not  the  better  grudge  against  the  best ; 
The  sword  must  have  a  hilt  to  hold  it  fast. 

"  High  strength  is  Heaven's  gift ;  yet  little  prize 
It  brings  its  owner,  if  he  be  not  wise  ; 
A  bear  with   twelve  men's   strength  can  one  man 

kill: 
As  shield  'gainst  sword,  set  law  against  thy  will. 

"  The  proud  are  feared  by  few,  hated  by  all ; 
And  insolence,  O  Frithiof,  brings  a  fall. 


KING-  &ELE  AND   VIKINGSSON.  13 

Men,  mighty  once,  I've  seen  on  crutches  borne, 
And  fortune  changeth  like  storm-blasted  corn. 

"  Praise  not  the  day  before  the  night  arrive  ; 
Mead  till  'tis  drunk,  or  counsel  till  it  thrive  ; 
Youth  trusteth  soon  to  many  an  idle  word  ; 
Need  proves  a  friend,  as  battle  proves  a  sword. 

"  Trust  not  to  one  night's  ice,  to  spring-day  snow, 
To  serpent's  slumber,  or  to  maiden's  vow  ; 
For  heart  of  woman  turneth  like  a  wheel, 
And  'neath  the  snowy  breast  doth  falsehood  dwell" 

';  Thyself  must  perish,  all  thou  hast  must  fade  ; 
One  thing  alone  on  earth  is  deathless  made — 
That  is,  the  dead  man's  glory  ;  therefore  thou 
Will  what  is  right,  and  what  is  noble,  do. 

So  warned  the  graybeards  in  the  royal  hall, 

As  later  warned  the  Skald  in  Havamal  ; 

From  mouth  to  mouth  went  words  of  wisdom 
round, 

Which,  whispered  still,  through  Northland's  hills  re 
sound. 

Then  both  full  many  a  hearty  memory  named 
Of  their  true  friendship,  in  the  Northland  famed  ; 
How,  faithful  unto  death,  in  joy  or  need, 
Like  two  clasp'd  hands,  together  they  had  stayed. 


H  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

"  Sons  !  back  to  back  our  stand  we  ever  made  ; 
So  ever  to  each  Nome  a  shield  displayed  ; 
And  now,  we  aged,  to  Valhalla  haste  ; 
Oh  !  with  our  sons  may  their  sires'  spirits  rest !  " 

Much  spake  the  king  of  Frithiof 's  valor  good, 
His  hero-might  excelling  royal  blood  ; 
And  Thorsten  much  of  future  fame  to  crown 
The  Asa  sons,  who  should  the  Northland  own. 

"  And  if  ye  hold  together,  ye  mighty  three, 
Your  conqueror  the  Northland  ne'er  shall  see  ; 
For  might,  by  lofty  station  firmly  held, 
Is  like  the  steel  rim  round  a  golden  shield. 

"  And  my  dear  daughter — tender  rose-bud  ! — greet 
In  tranquil  silence  bred,  as  most  is  meet ; 
Defend  her  ;  let  the  storm-wind  ne'er  have  power 
To  plant  upon  his  crest  my  late-born  flower. 

"  Helge  !  on  thee  I  lay  a  father's  care  ; 
Guard,  like  a  daughter  dear,  my  Ingborg  fair  ; 
Force  breaks  a  noble  soul,  but  mildness  leads 
Both  man  and  maid  to  good  and  noble  deeds. 

"  Now,  children,  lay  us  in  two  lofty  graves 
Down  by  the  sea-shore,  near  the  deep  blue  waves 
Their  sounds  shall  to  our  souls  be  music  sweet, 
Singing  our  dirge  as  on  the  strand  they  beat. 


KING    liELE  AND    VIKINGSSON.  15 

"When     round     the     hills    the    pale    moonlight    is 

thrown. 

And  midnight  dews  fall  on  the  Bauta-stone, 
We'll  sit,  O  Thorsten,  in  our  rounded  graves, 
And  speak  together  o'er  the  gentle  waves. 

"  And  now,  ye  sons  beloved,  fare  ye  well  ; 
We  go  to  Allfather,  in  peace  to  dwell, 
As  weary  rivers  long  to  reach  the  sea. 
With  you  may  Frey  and  Thor  and  Odin  be  ! " 


III. 

FRITHIOF'S    INHERITANCE. 

NOW  in  their  graves  had  been  set  King  Belc 
and  Thorstcn  the  aged, 
Where  they  themselves  had  desired  ;  uprose  on  each 

side  of  the  deep  bay 
Mounds  high  arched,  like  breasts  that  the  valley  of 

death  separated. 
Helge    and     Halfdan    together,    by    old     traditional 

usage, 
Ruled  in  the  house  of  their  sire  ;  but  Frithiof  shared 

his  with  no  one, 
And    as    an    only    son    possessed    the    dwelling    at 

Fraumas. 
Three  leagues  forth  was  his  rule,  on  three  sides  round 

him  extended, 
Valley  and  mountain  and  wood  ;  and  the  sea  was  the 

fourth  of  his  mearings. 
Birch  forest  crowned  the  tops  of  the  hills,  and  where 

they  descended 
(16) 


FRITIIIOF'S  INHERITANCE.  17 

Waved  fields  of  rye  as  tall  as  a  man,  and  golden- 
eared  barley. 

Many  a  fair,  smooth  lake  held  a  mirror  of  light  to  the 
mountains, 

Picturing  forth  the  forests,  where  elks  with  towering 
antlers 

Stalked  with  the  gait  of  kings,  and  drank  from  rivu 
lets  countless. 

And  in  the  valleys  around,  far  pastured  abroad  o'er 
the  meadows, 

Herds  with  glittering  hides,  and  udders  that  yearned 
for  the  milking. 

Mingled  with  these,  moved   slowly  about   in   flocks 
without  number, 

Sheep  with  fleeces  of  snow,  as  float  in  the  beautiful 
heavens 

•Thick,  white,  feathery  clouds  at  the  gentle  breathing 
of  spring-time. 

Twice  twelve  spirited  steeds,  like   terrible  winds  in 
confinement, 

Pawed  in  the  stalls  impatient,  and  champ'd  the  growth 
of  the  meadows  ; 

Red  silk  shone  in  their  manes,  and  their  hoofs  were 
flashing  with  steel  shoes. 


But  a  house  for  itself  was  the  banquet  hall,  fashioned 
in  fir- wood  ; 


1 8  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

Not  five   hundred,  though  told  ten  dozen  to  every 

hundred, 
Filled  that  chamber  so  vast,  when  they  gathered  for 

Yule-tide  carousing. 
Through  the  whole  length  of  the  hall  shone  forth  the 

table  of  oak  wood, 
Brighter  than  steel,  and  polished  ;   the  pillars  twain 

of  the  high  seat 
Stood  on  each  side  thereof;    two  gods  deep  carved 

out  of  elm  wood  : 
(Odin  with  glance  of  a  king,  and  Frey  with  the  sun 

on  his  forehead). 
Lately  betwixt  them  sat  on  his  bear-skin  (this  was  as 

coal  black, 
Scarlet  red  were  the  jaws,  and  the  paws  with  silver 

beshodden) : 
Thorsten  still  with  his  friends,  Hospitality  sitting  with 

Gladness. 

Oft,  while  sped  the  moon  through  the  sky,  the  gray- 
beard  related 
Wonders  of  far-lying  lands,  and  of  many  a  Vikinga 

voyage 
Wide  on  the  eastern  sea,  o'er  the  western  waves,  and 

on  Gandvik. 
The  glance  of  the  listeners  silent  hung  on  the  lips  of 

the  speaker — 
Hung  as  a  bee  from  a  rose  ;  the  Skald  alone  thought 

upon  Brage, 


FRITHIOF'S  INHERITANCE.  19 

How,  with  his  silver  beard  and  tongue  rune-written, 

he  sitteth 
Under   the    leafy   grove,   and    relateth    wonders    by 

Mimer's 

Ever-murmuring     stream  ;     himself    a    living     rela 
tion. 
Now  in  the  midst  of  the  rush-strewn  hall  continual 

flaming 
Rose  the  fire  from  the  mortared  hearth  ;  through  the 

open  chimney, 
Heavenly,  friend-like  stars  looked  into  the  banqueting 

chamber. 
Round  on  the  wall  from  hooks  of  steel  were  hanging 

in  order 
Breast-plates  and  helmets  together,  while  here  and 

there  from  between  them 
Flashed  a  sword,  like  a  meteor  seen  in  the  dark  nights 

of  winter. 
But  more  than  helmet  or  sword  the  shields  shone 

bright  in  the  chamber, 
Clear  as  the  orb  of  the  sun,  or  the  silvery  disc  of  the 

pale  moon. 
Then,  when  a  maiden  went  round  the  board  and  filled 

up  the  mead-horns, 
Downwards  she  cast  her  eyes,  and  blushed,  and  her 

form  in  the  round  shields 
Blushed  like  the  maiden  herself;  this  gladdened  each 

banqueting  comrade. 


20  FRITHIOF'8  SAGA. 

Rich  was  the  house  :  where'er  the  eye  could  turn, 
there  did  meet  it 

Cellars  and  chests  well  filled,  and  granaries  heaped 
with  provisions. 

Many  a  treasure,  too,  it  contained,  the  booty  of  war 
fare  : 

Golden,  with  deep-carved  Runes,  and  silver  \von- 
drously  fashioned. 

Three  things  there  were  prized  above  all  the  rest  of 
the  riches  : 

First  of  the  three  was  the  mighty  sword,  an  heir-loom 
ancestral,  • 

Angurvadel,  so  was  it  named,  and  brother  of  Light 
ning  ; 

Far  in  the  east  it  was  forged,  as  ancient  legends  re 
lated, 

Tempered  by  toil  of  dwarfs  :  Bjorn  Blcetand  the  first 
who  had  borne  it. 

But  Bjorn  paid  as  a  forfeit  at  once  both  his  life  and 
his  weapon, 

Southward  in  Groninga-sund,  when  he  fought  with 
the  powerful  Vifell. 

Vifell  was  father  to  Viking.  There  dwelt  then,  feeble 
and  aged, 

At  Ullaroker,  a  king  with  an  only  beautiful  daugh 
ter. 

Lo  !  there  came  from  the  depths  of  the  woods  a  giant 
tremendous. 


FRITIIIOF'S  INHERITANCE.  21 

Greater  in  height  than  stature  of  man,  and  hairy  and 

cruel, 
Demanding  a  champion  to  fight,  or  else  both  daughter 

and  kingdom. 
No  man  stood  forth  to  strive,  nor  could  find  a  hard 

enough  weapon 
His  skull  of  iron  to  wound,  and  therefore  they  named 

him  the  lernhos. 

Viking  alone,  who  had  just  filled  fifteen  winters,  with 
stood  him, 
Fighting  with  trust  in  his  arm  and  Angurvadel,  with 

one  stroke 
Cleft  he  the  terrible  foe  to  the  waist,  and  rescued  the 

fair  one. 
Viking  left  it  to  Thorsten,  his  son,  and  from  Thorsten 

descended 
Came  it  to  Frithiof  at  last.     When  he  drew  it,  the 

hall  was  illumined 
As  by  a  lightning-flash,  or  the  dazzling  gleam  of  the 

north-lights. 
Golden  thereof  was  the  hilt ;    with  verses  the  blade 

of  it  written, 
Wonderful,  strange  to  the  north,  but  known  at  the 

threshold  of  sunshine, 
Where  their  fathers  had  dwelt  ere  the  Asen  led  them 

up  northwards. 
Dull  was   the  sheen  of   the  Runes  as  long  as  was 

peace  in  the  nation, 


22  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

But  when  Hildur  began  her  sport,  then  glittered  they 

blood-red — 
Red  as  the  crest  of  a  cock  when  he  fighteth.     Lost 

was  the  foeman 
Who  ever  met  that  naming  sword  in  the  midst  of  the 

battle. 
Far  was  that  sword  renowned,  and  of  swords  the  first 

in  the  Northland. 
Next  in  worth  to  the  sword  was  an  arm-ring,  far  and 

wide  famous, 
Forged  by  the  Vulcan  of  Northern  story,  the  halting 

Valunder  ; 
Three  marks  was    it   in  weight,  of  gold   unmingled 

y-fashioned  ; 
On  it  the  heavens  were  wrought,  and  the  towers  of 

the  twelve  immortals 
(Figuring  changing  months,  the  Sun's  dwellings  called 

by  the  minstrels) : 
Alfheim  there  might  be  seen,  Frey's  tower,  and  the 

sun  in  new  vigor, 
As  he  beginneth  to  climb  the  heights  of  the  heaven 

at  Yule-tide. 
Soquaback,  too,  was  there  ;  in  its  hall  sat  Odin  by 

Saga, 
Quaffing  the  wine  from  a  golden  shell, — that  shell  is 

the  ocean, 
Colored  with  gold  from  the  glow  of  the  morn  ;   and 

Saga  is  spring-time 


FRITHIOF'S   INHERITANCE.  23 

Writ  upon  grassy  fields  with  flowers  instead  of  with 

letters. 
Balder  appeared  there  too,  as  the  sun  of  midsummer, 

glorious, 
Shedding  abundance  around,  and  shining,  the  image 

of  goodness. 
Beaming  with  light  is  Goodness,  but  all  that  is  Evil 

is  gloomy. 
Weary  the  sun  groweth,  mounting  so  high,  and  so 

groweth  Goodness 

Faint  on  the  dizzy  height ;  so,  sighing,  sink  they  to 
gether 
Down  to  the  realms  of  Hela,  the  land  of  shadows  and 

darkness. 
Glitner  was   pictured   thereon,  the   palace  of  peace, 

where  Forsete, 
Holding  the  scales  in  his  hand  impartial,  ruleth  the 

autumn. 
Many  such  forms,  whereby  the  progress  of  light  was 

betokened, 
High  in  the  vault  of  the  sky  and  deep  in  the  spirit  of 

mortals, 
Stood,  wrought  by  master-hand  on  the  ring  ;  and  a 

cluster  of  rubies 
Crowned  the  circlet  fair  as  the  sun  doth  the  arch  of 

the  heaven, 
fleirloom  old  in  the  race  was  the  ring  ;    its  origin 

ancient 


24  FRITHIOF'S   SAGA. 

(Though  by  the  mother's  side)  reached  up  to  mighty 
Valunder. 

Once  had  the  gem  been  stolen  away  by  plundering 
Sote  ; 

Widely  he  cruised  through  the  sea  of  the  North,  but 
suddenly  vanished. 

Rumor  at  last  was  borne  how  on  Britain's  coast  he 
had  buried 

Himself,  with  treasure  and  ships,  in  a  builded  sepul 
chre  lofty  : 

Still  there  found  he  no  rest,  and  his  grave  forever  was  . 
haunting. 

Thorsten   the    rumor    heard ;    with    King    Bele    he 
mounted  his  dragon, 

Cleft    through   the   foaming  waves,  and    steered   his 
course  unto  Britain. 

Wide   as   a  temple-dome,  or  a  lordly  palace,  deep- 
bedded 

Down  in  the  dark  green  grass  and  turf,  lay  the  sepul 
chre  rounded  ; 

Light  gleamed  out  therefrom  ;   through  a  chink  in  the 
ponderous  portal 

Glanced  the  comrades  in  ;   pitch-black  within  stood 
the  vessel 

Of  Sote,  with  helm  and  anchor  and  mast ;   and  high 
by  the  tiller 

Sat  there  a  terrible   form  ;    he  was  clad  in  a   fiery 
mantle  ; 


FRITHIOF'S   INHERITANCE.  25 

Moodily  glaring  sat   he,  and   scrubbed  his   blood- 
spotted  weapon 
Vainly  ;  the  stains  remained,  and  all  the  wealth  he 

had  stolen 
Round  in  the  grave  was  heaped  ;  the  ring  on  his 

arm  he  was  wearing. 
"  Come,"  whispered  Bele,  "let's  enter  and  fight  with 

this  terrible  being, 
Two  men  against  a  fiery  fiend."     Half  angry  swore 

Thorsten — 
"  One  against  one  our  fathers  fought,  and  alone  will  I 

combat." 

Long  contended  the  twain  for  the  right  of  the  peril 
ous  conflict, 
Which  should  essay  it   first ;    till  Bele,   taking  his 

helmet, 
Shuffled  for  each  within  it  a  lot,  and  soon  by  the 

starlight 
Thorsten  discovered  his  own  ;    so  he  smote  on  the 

door  with  his  steel  lance. 
Open  flew  bolt  and  bar  ;  he  descended.     When  any 

one  asked  him 
What  he  had  seen  in  the  gloomy  pit,  he  was  silent, 

and  shuddered. 
Bele  first  heard  a  song,  like  the  spell  of  witchcraft  it 

sounded  ; 
Then  rose  a  loud-clashing  noise,  like  the  crossing 

of  weapons  it  sounded  ; 


26  FRITHIOF'S  SAO  A. 

Lastly,  a  terrible  cry,  which  was  hushed  ;  then  out 

darted  Thorsten, 
Ghastly,  bewildered,  disturbed ;   with  awful  Death 

he  had  battled  ; 
Bearing,  moreover,  the  ring.     "  'Twas  dear-bought," 

oft  he  repeated  ; 
"  Since  in  my  life,  save  the  time  that  I  won  it,  I  ne'er 

was  affrighted." 
Far  was  that  jewel  renowned,  and  of  jewels  the  first 

in  the  Northland. 
Ship  Ellida,  the  last  of  the  three,  of  its  kind  was  a 

jewel : 
Viking  (so  say  they),  as  homeward  he  hied  him  back 

once  from  battle, 
Coasting  the  shore,  espied  a  man  on  a  frail  spar  of 

drift-wood 
Carelessly  tossing  about ;  he  seemed  with  the  waves 

to  be  sporting. 

Tall,  and  of  powerful  form  was  the  man  ;   his  coun 
tenance  noble, 
Joyous,  but  changing,  like  to  the  ocean  playing  in 

sunshine. 
Blue  was  his  mantle,  belted  with  gold,  with  coral 

adorne'd  ; 
Sea-green  his  hair,  yet  hoary  his  beard  as  the  foam 

of  the  ocean. 
Hitherward  Viking  steered  his  snake  to  shelter  the 

outcast, 


FRITHIOF'S  INHERITANCE.  27 

Took  him  perishing  home  to  his  house,  and  exer 
cised  kindness  : 
Yet  when  the  host  to  a  chamber  would  lead  him,  the 

guest  laughed,  exclaiming — 
Good  are  the  winds,  and  my  vessel,  thou  seest,  is 

not  to  be  scorne'd  ; 
Fivescore   leagues   (at   least,   so    I    hope),  shall    I 

traverse  ere  morning. 
Thanks  for  thy  bidding — well  'twas  intended  ;  would 

that  some  kindness 
I,  in  my  turn,  could  offer,  but  my  wealth  lies  in  the 

ocean  ; 
Haply  to-morrow  from  me  thou  may'st  find  some 

gift  by  the  sea-side." 
Next  day  Viking  stood  by  the  sea,  and  lo  !  as  an 

osprey 
Flieth,    quarry-pursuing,    a    ship    sailed    into    the 

haven  ; 

No  man  upon  it  appeared  ;  no  pilot  could  be  dis 
covered  ; 
Yet  it  steered  its  winding  way  through  breakers  and 

quicksands, 
Like  as  if  spirit-possessed  ;  and  when  it  entered  the 

haven, 
Reefed  were  the  sails  by  themselves,  untouched  by 

hand  of  a  mortal  ; 
Down  sank   the  anchor  itself,  and  clung  with   its 

fluke  to  the  bottom. 


28  FRITHIOF'8  SAGA. 

Dumb  stood  Viking,  and  gazed  ;  then  sang  the  glad, 

heaving  billows  : 

"  Aegir,  protected,  forgetteth  no  debt,  and  hath  sent 
thee  this  dragon." 

Kingly,  indeed,  was  the  gift  ;  the  bended  planking 
of  oak-wood, 

Not,  as  in  others,  joined,  was  by  one  growth  banded 
together ; 

Far  spread  her  lengthy  keel ;  her  crest,  like  a  ser 
pent  of  ocean, 

High  in  the  bows  she  reared  ;  her  jaws  were  flaming 
with  red  gold. 

Sprinkled   with   yellow   on    blue   was    her    beam ; 
astern,  at  the  rudder, 

Flapped  she  around  her  powerful  tail,  that  glittered 
with  silver  ; 

Black   were   her  pinions,  bordered  with   red,   and 
when  they  were  bended, 

Vied  she  in  speed  with  the  loud-roaring  blast,  out 
stripping  the  eagle. 

Saw  ye  her  filled  with  warriors  armed,  your  eyes 
would  have  fancied 

Then  to  have  seen  a  fortress  at  sea,  or  the  tower  of 
a  great  king, 

Far  was  that  ship  renowned,  and  of  ships  the  first 
in  the  Northland. 


FRITHIOF1 8  INHERITANCE.  29 

These   things,   and   many   more,    from   his    sire    did 

Frithiof  inherit  ; 
Scarce   in   the    Northern   land   was    there   found   an 

heritage  richer, 
Save  with  the  son  of  a  king  ;  for  the  wealth  of  kings 

is  the  greatest. 
He  was  no  son  of  a  king,  yet  king-like,  in  sooth,  was 

his  spirit  ; 
Friendly,  noble,  and  mild,  with  each  day  growing  in 

glory. 
Comrades    twelve    were    around     him,    gray-haired, 

princes  in  warfare, 
Thorsten's  steel-breasted  knights,  with  many  a  scar 

on  their  foreheads. 
Lowest  of  these  on   the  warriors'  bench  sate  also  a 

stripling, 
Like  to  a  rose  in  a  withering  bower  ;  Bjorn  was  his 

title  ; 
Gay  as  a  child,  but  brave  as  a  man,  and  wise  as  an 

old  man  ; 
Frithiof 's  comrade  from  childhood;    blood  they  had 

mingled  together 

(Fosterkin  by  Northern  use),  and  sworn  to  continue 
Sorrow  and  joy  to  share,  and  avenge  the  death  of 

each  other. 

Now,  'midst  the  crowd  of  comrades  and  guests  who 
had  come  to  the  grave-feast, 


3o  FRITHIOF'8  SAGA. 

Frithiof,  a  sorrowing  host,  his  eyes  with  tears  o'er- 

flowing. 
Drank  (as  our  ancestors  used)  his  father's  memory, 

hearing 
Songs  of  Skalds  resound  to  his  praise, — a  thundering 

Drapa, — 
Mounted  his  father's  seat,  now  his,  and  silently  sat 

him 
Down  betwixt  Odin  and  Frey ;  that  is  Thor's  place 

up  in  Valhalla, 


IV. 
FRITHIOF'S    WOOING. 

LOUD  soundeth  the  song  in  Frithiof 's  hall ; 
The  Skalds  sing  the  fame  of  his  ancestors  all ; 
No  joy  do  they  bring 
To  Frithiof,  who  heeds  not  the  tales  they  sing. 

Again  hath  the  earth  donned  her  raiment  of  green, 

And  vessels  swim  over  the  billows  again  ; 

To  the  shadowy  grove 

Hieth  Frithiof,  by  moonlight,  to  dream  of  his  love. 

Tin1  lately  he  joined  in  the  joys  of  his  home, 
For  Halfdan  the  merry  he'd  bidden  to  come, 
And  dark  Helge,  the  king, 
And  with  them  fair  Ingborg  persuaded  to  bring. 

He  sat  by  her  side,  and  her  white  hand  he  pressed, 
And  the  pressure  returned  made  him  happy  and  blest ; 
And  he  hung  in  a  trance 
Of  unspeakable  love  on  her  favoring  glance. 


32  FRITHIOF'S   SAGA. 

And  often  they  spake  of  each  happier  day, 
When  the  morning  dew  on  their  young  lives  lay, — 
Of  childhood's  hours, 
To  noble  minds  a  garden  of  flowers. 

They  spake  of  each  valley  and  forest  dark, 

Of  their  names  deep-carved  in  the  birchen-bark, — 

Of  each  ancient  grave, 

Where  the  oaks  grew  tall  in  the  dust  of  the  brave. 

"  In  the  court  of  the  king  no  such  gladness  hath  smiled, 
For  Helge  is  sullen,  and  Halfdan  wild, 
And  my  brothers  hear 
Nought  but  flattering  song  or  covetous  prayer. 

"  I  have  no  one  "  (and  here  she  blushed  red  as  the  rose) 
"  To  whom  I  may  speak  of  my  sorrow  and  woes  ; 

The  court  of  the  king 

Far  less  joy  than  the  valley  of  Hilding  can  bring. 

"  The  doves  which  together  we  long  ago-  rear'd, 
By  the  hawks'  fierce  attacks  are  all  scatter'd  and  scar'd; 
One  pair  alone 
Remains,  of  that  last  pair  take  thou  one. 

"  For,  doubtless,  the  bird  to  his  mate  will  return  ; 
They  even  for  love  and  for  fondness  can  yearn  ; 
'Ncath  its  wing  bind  for  me 
One  loving  word  which  unnoticed  may  be." 


FRITHIOF'S   WOOING.  33 

So  whispering  sate  they  the  livelong  day, 

And  were  whispering  still  when  the  sun  passed  away, 

As  the  evening  breeze 

Whispers  in  spring  through  the  linden  trees. 

But  now  she  is  gone,  and  his  joyous  mood 
Is  fled  with  her  presence  ;  the  youthful  blood 
Mounts  to  his  cheek  : 
He  sighs  and  grieves,  silent,  unwilling  to  speak. 

And  sadly  he  wrote  of  his  grief  by  the  dove, 
Which  joyously  sped  on  his  message  of  love  ; 
But  ah  !  to  their  woe, 
From  his  mate  could  no  more  be  persuaded  to  go. 

But  Bjorn  this  mourning  could  not  bear  ; 

He  cried  :  "  What  makes  our  young  eagle  here 

So  sad  and  moody  ? 

Hath  his  breast  been  struck — are  his  pinions  bloody  ? 

"  What  will'st  thou  ?     For  here  we  can  fear  no  need 
Of  noble  food,  or  of  nut-brown  mead  ; 
And  the  Skalds'  long  train 
Cease  not  the  joyous,  tuneful  strain. 

"  His  pawing  coursers  impatient  neigh  ; 
His  falcon  wildly  screams  for  prey. 
In  the  clouds  alone 
Will  Frithiof  chase,  by  sorrowing  o'erthrown. 


34  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

"  Ellida  hath  no  rest  upon  the  wave, 
Early  and  late  at  anchor  doth  she  chafe. 
Ellida,  be  thou  still ; 
For  strife  and  warfare  is  not  Frithiof 's  will." 

At  last  sets  Frithiof  his  dragon  free  ; 

The  sails  swell  high,  the  waves  cleaves  she  ; 

And  speedily  brings 

Him  over  the  sea  to  the  court  of  the  kings. 

That  day  were  they  sitting  on  Bele's  grave, 
And  judgment  before  all  the  people  they  gave  ; 
Loud  Frithiof  cried — 
Round  hill  and  vale  his  voice  echoed  wide  : 

"  Fair  Ingborg,  ye  monarchs,  I  love  as  my  life  ; 
And  your  sister  I  ask  of  you  now  for  my  wife  ; 
This  union,  too, 
Was  ever  King  Bele's  purpose  true. 

"  In  Hilding's  home  brought  up  we  were, 
As  young  trees  grow  together  fair  ; 
And  our  fates  above 
Hath  Freya  woven  in  gold  threads  of  love. 

"No  king,  no  Yarl  was  my  sire,  I  own  ; 
But  long  shall  his  name  in  song  live  on. 
The  fame  of  our  race 
Is  witnessed  in  many  a  burial-place. 


S   WOOING.  35 

"  'Twere  easy  for  me  to  win  kingdom  and  land, 
But  that  better  I  cherish  my  native  strand  ; 
Where  with  love  I'll  watch  o'er 
The  court  of  the  king  and  the  hut  of  the  poor. 

"  We  stand  on  the  grave  of  great  Bele  ;  he  hears 
Below  us  my  word,  which  adjures  you  with  prayers  ; 
For  this  boon  from  you 
With  Frithiof  your  buried  sire  doth  sue." 

Then  rose  King  Helge,  and  cried  with  scorn : 
"  Our  sister  was  ne'er  for  a  vassal  born  ; 
A  king's  son  alone 
Shall  Valhalla's  beautiful  daughter  own. 

"  Go  !  style  thyself  first  in  the  North  in  thy  pride  ; 
Win  maids  with  thy  word,  and  win  men  with  thy  might : 
But  given  to  thee, 
Our  sister,  of  Odin's  blood,  never  shall  be. 

"  Let  the  care  of  the  realm  be  no  trouble  to  thee  ; 
I  can  guard  it  myself,  but  my  serf  thou  may'st  be  ; 
A  place  there  is  still 
In  our  household  thou  mayest  be  happy  to  fill." 

"  Thy  serf,"  exclaimed  Frithiof,  "  I  never  shall  be  ! 
I'm  a  man  for  myself,  as  my  father  was,  free, 
From  thy  silver  sheath  fly, 
Angurvadel,  to  fright  his  security." 


36  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

Bright  flash'd  the  blue  steel  'gainst  the  sun-lighted 

sky, 
And  the  Runes  blazed  blood-red  as  he  waved  it  on 

high: 

"  Angurvadel,"  quoth  he, 
"  Thou,  at  least,  art  of  ancient  nobility. 

"  If  the  peace  of  the  grave  did  not  pacify  me, 
Dark  king,  my  good  blade  would  have  brought  it  to 

thee; 

Now  hear  this  last  word  : 
Come  never  again  within  reach  of  my  sword  ! " 

So  spake  he,  and  cleft  with  a  terrible  stroke 
The  gold  shield  of  Helge,  which  hung  on  an  oak, 
In  twain  at  a  blow, 
And  its  crash  on  the  grave  was  reechoed  below. 

"  Well  stricken,  good  sword  !  now  lie  quiet,  and  think 
Upon  mightier  deeds  ;  but  at  present  let  sink 
Thy  Runes'  bright  glow  ; 
O'er  the  blue  waves  we  must  homeward  go."  . 


V. 

KING    RING. 

ND    King  Ring  from  the  board  his  gold  seat 

thrust  forth  ; 
Skalds  and  warriors  rise 
To  list  to  their  monarch's  word  of  worth, 
Famed  in  the  North  ; 
Good  was  he  as  Balder,  and  as  Mimer  wise. 

Peaceful  his  land,  like  groves  where  gods  are  found  ; 

Never  arose 

The  din  of  arms  within  its  sheltered  bound  ; 
And  all  around 

The  grass  grew  green,  and  sweetly  bloom'd  the  rose. 

Justice  sate  merciful,  but  undismayed, 

Upon  the  judging-stone  ; 
And  peace  each  year  abundant  tribute  paid  ; 
While  widely  spread 

In  sunshine  bright  the  golden  corn-fields  shone. 

(37) 


38  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

O'er  ocean  the  black-breasted  dragons  hied 

On  snowy  pinions  ; 

Thither  from  many  a  distant  land  they  plied, 
And  from  far  and  wide 

Brought  riches  more  to  his  rich  dominions. 

With  peace  dwelt  freedom  safely  there, 

And  though  the  king 
All,  as  the  father  of  the  land,  held  dear, 
Still,  without  fear, 

Each  spoke  his  mind  upon  the  open  Ting. 

He'd  ruled  the  Northmen,  in  peace  and  right, 

Full  thirty  years  ; 
None  left  his  presence  unsatisfied  ; 
And  every  night 

Sped  to  Odin  his  name  in  his  people's  prayers. 

So  King  Ring  from  the  board  his  gold  seat  thrust  forth, 

And  all  rose  glad 

To  hear  the  monarch's  word  of  worth, 
Famed  in  the  North, 

But,  deeply  sighing,  thus  he  spake  and  said  : 

"  In  Folkvang  sitteth  my  gentle  queen, 

On  purple  throned  ; 

But  here  on  her  grave  the  grass  grows  green, 
And  flowers  are  seen 

To  bloom  by  the  brook  that  flows  around. 


KING   RING.  39 

"  Ne'er  find  I  a  queen  so  lovely  and  leal 

My  crown  to  share. 
She's  fled  to  Valhalla  in  joy  to  dwell ; 
But  the  common  weal 

Makes  me  seek  for  my  children  a  mother's  care. 

"  With  the  summer  winds  often  we  used  to  see 

King  Bele  here  : 

A  lily-sweet  daughter  he  left,  and  she 
My  choice  shall  be, 

With  the  morning  dawn  on  her  cheeks  so  fair. 

"  She  is  young,  and  young  maidens  love,  I  know, 

To  pluck  flowers  of  spring. 
My  bloom  is  past,  and  chill  winter's  snow 
Full  long  ago 

Hath  whitened  the  hoary  locks  of  your  king. 

"  Yet  an  honest  man  still  her  choice  may  be, 

Though  white  his  hair  ; 
,  And  if  to  my  motherless  children  she 
A  mother  will  be, 

Then  autumn  with  spring-time  his  throne  may 
share. 

"  Take  gold  from  my  coffers,  take  bridal  array, 

From  each  oaken  chest ; 

And  follow,  ye  bards,  with  your  harps  on  the  way, 
For  meetly  may 

He  seek  Brage's  aid  who  a-wooing  doth  haste." 


40  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

Forth  with  shouting  and  glee  his  men 

With  gifts  and  with  gold  ; 

And  the  Skalds  they  followed,  a  winding  throng, 
With  harp  and  with  song, 

And  the  home  of  King  Bele's  sons  soon  they 
behold. 

Two  days  they  feasted,  they  feasted  three  ; 

When  the  fourth  was  come, 
To  hear  what  Helge's  answer  might  be 
Entreated  they, 

That  back  again  they  might  hie  them  home. 

To  the  grove  for  sacrifice  brought  he  in  haste 

Both  falcon  and  steed  ; 

Then  sought  each  Vala,  and  sought  each  priest, 
What  fate  were  best 

For  his  sister,  the  beautiful  Ingborg,  decreed. 

But  the  omens  were  evil,  though  anxiously  tried 

Each  Vala  and  priest ; 
And  Helge,  by  evil  signs  terrified, 
"  Nay  !  "    sturdily  cried, 

"  For  men  must  yield  to  the  gods'  behest." 

But  merry  King  Halfdan  laughingly  cried  : 

"  Oh,  wasted  feast ! 

Had  King  Graybeard  himself  chosen  hither  to  ride, 
Full  gladly  I'd 

Have  helped  him  myself  to  climb  up  on  his  beast." 


KING  RING.  4i 

The  messengers  hied  them  home  angrily  ; 

To  their  master's  ear 
The  tale  they  told,  and  loud  swore  he — 
"  Right  speedily 

King  Graybeard  this  stain  from  his  honor  shall 
clear." 

He  smote  on  his  war-shield,  which  hung  at  rest 

On  a  linden  tree  ; 

And  his  dragons  sped  over  the  sea  in  haste, 
With  blood-red  crest ; 

And  the  helmet  plumes  waved  merrily. 

And  to  Helge  the  rumors  of  war  came  near. 

In  dread  quoth  he  : 

"  King  Ring  is  mighty — we've  cause  to  fear  ; 
So  in  Balder's  care, 

In  the  temple,  'twere  better  my  sister  should  be." 

There  sate  the  loving  one  mournfully 

In  the  peaceful  shade  ; 

She  wrought  in  silk,  and  in  gold  wrought  she  ; 
Unceasingly 

Her  tears  fell,  like  dew  on  the  lily  shed. 


VI. 
FRITHIOF    PLAYS    CHESS. 

FRITHIOF  sat  with  Bjorn  the  true 
At  the  chess-board,  fair  to  view  ; 
Squares  of  silver  decked  the  frame, 

Interchanged  with  squares  of  gold. 
Hilding  entering,  thus  he  greeted  : 
"  On  the  upper  bench  be  seated  ; 

Drain  the  horn  until  my  game 
I  finish,  foster-father  bold. 


Quoth  Hilding  :  "  Hither  come  I  speeding, 
For  King  Bele's  sons  entreating  ; 
Danger  daily  sounds  more  near, 

And  the  people's  hope  art  thou." 
"  Bjorn,"  quoth  Frithiof,  "  now  beware  ; 
111  thy  king  doth  seem  to  fare  ; 

And  pawn  may  free  him  from  his  fear, 
So  scruple  not  to  let  it  go." 
(42) 


FRITHIOF  PLAYS   CHESS.  43 

"  Court  not,  Frithiof,  kings'  displeasure, 
Though  with  Ring  they  ill  may  measure  ; 
Yet  eagles'  young,  have  wings  of  power, 
And  their  force  thy  strength  outvies." 
"  If,  Bjorn,  thou  wilt  my  tower  beset, 
Thus  easily  thy  wile  I  meet ; 

No  longer  canst  thou  gain  my  tower, 
Which  back  to  place  of  safety  hies." 


Ingeborg,  in  Balder's  keeping, 
Passeth  all  her  days  in  weeping  ; 

Thine  aid  in  strife  may  she  not  claim, 

Fearful  maiden,  azure-eyed." 
What  wouldst  thou,  Bjorn  ?     Assail  my  queen, 
Which  dear  from  childhood's  days  hath  been — 
The  noblest  piece  in  all  the  game  ? 
Her  I'll  defend,  whate'er  betide." 


"  What !  Frithiof,  wilt  thou  not  reply  ? 
And  shall  thy  foster-father  hie 

Unheeded  from  thy  hearth  away, 

Because  thy  game  is  long  to  end  ?  " 
Then  stood  Frithiof  up,  and  laid 
Hilding's  hand  in  his,  and  said  : 
"  Already  hast  thou  heard  me  say 

What  answers  to  their  prayers  I  send. 


44  FRITHIOF'8  SAG4. 

"  Go,  let  the  sons  of  Bele  learn 
That,  since  my  suit  they  dared  to  spurn, 
No  bond  between  us  shall  be  tied  ; 

Their  serf  I  never  shall  become." 
"  Well !  follow  on  thy  proper  path  ; 
111  fits  it  me  to  chide  thy  wrath  : 

All  to  some  good  may  Odin  guide," 
HiJding  said,  and  hied  him  home. 


VII. 

FRITHIOF'S    JOY. 

THOUGH  Bele's  sons  may  widely  sound, 
From  vale  to  vale,  the  battle-cry, 
I  go  not  forth  j  my  battle-ground, 

My  world,  in  Balder's  grove  doth  lie. 
From  thence  no  backward  glance  I'll  cast 

On  kingly  spite  or  earthly  care  ; 
But  joys  of  the  immortals  taste 
United  with  my  Ingborg  fair. 


"  As  long  as  glowing  sunshine  hovers 

O'er  flowers  fair  in  purple  light, 
Like  rosy-tinted  veil  that  covers 

The  bosom  of  my  Ingborg  bright,— 
So  long  I  wander  by  the  strand, 

By  longing  ceaselessly  devoured, 
And,  sighing,  trace  upon  the  sand 
Her  name  belove'd,  with  my  sword. 

(45) 


46  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

"  Ho\v  slowly  pass  the  hours  away  ! 

Why,  son  of  Delling,  lingerest  thou  ? 
Hast  thou  not  marked  each  isle  and  bay, 

Each  hill  and  grove,  full  oft  ere  now  ? 
Doth  no  belov'd  one  westward  dwell 

Who  for  thy  coming  long  doth  grieve, 
And  flieth  to  thy  breast  to  tell 

Her  love  at  dawn,  her  love  at  eve  ? 


"  But,  weary  with  thy  course,  at  last 

Thou  sinkest  downwards  from  the  height  ; 
Her  rosy  carpet  eve  doth  haste 

To  spread  for  all  the  gods'  delight ; 
Of  love  waves  whisper  as  they  flee  ; 

Winds  whisper  love  in  breathing  light ; 
Mother  of  gods  !  I  welcome  thee, 

In  bridal  pearls  arrayed,  O  Night ! 


"  Each  silent  star  glides  through  the  sky, 

Like  lover  to  his  mistress  true  : 
Over  the  waves,  Ellida,  fly ; 

Speed,  speed  us  on,  ye  billows  blue  ! 
To  home  of  loving  gods  we  steer, 

Where  yonder  lies  the  holy  grove  ; 
And  Balder's  temple  standeth  near, 

Where  dwells  the  goddess  of  my  love. 


FRITHIOF'S  JOY.  47 

"  How  happy  spring  I  to  the  strand  ! 

Beloved  Earth,  I  press  thee  glad  ! 
And  you,  ye  little  flowers,  that  stand 

My  path  to  gem  with  white  and  red. 
Thou  Moon,  with  silvery  light  that  beamest 

Round  mound,  and  grove,  and  temple  tall, 
How  fair  thou  sittest  there,  and  dreamest, 

Like  Saga  in  a  bridal  hall. 


Who  taught  thee,  flowery  brook,  to  tell 

In  murmur  sweet,  my  love  exprest  ? 
Who  gave  thee,  Northland's  nightingale, 

Those  wailings,  stolen  from  my  breast  ? 
The  fairies  paint  in  sunset  hues 

My  Ingeborg  on  cloud-banks  gray  ; 
A  rival  beauty  Freya  views, 

And,  jealous,  breathes  the  form  away. 


"  Yet  may  her  image-now  depart, 

Since,  fair  as  Hope,  here  cometh  she  ; 
Still,  as  in  childhood,  true  of  heart, 

She  bringeth  love's  reward  to  me. 
Come,  darling,  to  my  fond  caressing, 

Cling  to  this  heart,  where  thou  art  dear  ; 
My  soul's  delight,  my  being's  blessing, 

Come  to  my  arms,  and  linger  there. 


48  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

"  As  slender  as  the  lily  slight, 

As  blooming  as  the  opened  rose  ; 
Thou  art  as  pure  as  Balder  bright, 

Yet  warm  of  heart,  as  Freya  glows. 
Kiss  me,  my  Ingborg ;  let  my  love 

In  joy  bring  kindred  joy  to  thee  ; 
For  earth  beneath  and  heaven  above 

Both  vanish  when  thou  kissest  me. 


"  Fear  not — no  danger  cometh  near  ; 

There  standeth  Bjorn  with  trusty  blade, 
And  men  enough,  if  need  there  were, 

To  shield  us  'gainst  the  world  arrayed. 
And  I,  oh  !  could  I  but  contend 

For  thee,  as  now  embracing  me, 
Glad  to  Valhalla  should  I  wend, 

And  thou  shouldst  my  Valkyria  be. 


"  Of  Balder's  wrath  what  whisperest  thou  ? 

He,  tender  god,  ne'er  loveth  ill 
Those  fond  ones  who,  with  plighted  vow, 

In  loving,  his  decrees  fulfil. 
He  who  true  faith  in  heart  doth  bear, 

And  beaming  sunshine  on  his  brow, 
Was  e'er  his  love  to  Nanna  dear 

More  pure,  more  warm,  than  ours  is  now  ? 


FRITH  IGF'S  JOY.  49 

"  There  stands  his  image  ;  he  is  near  ; 

How  softly  gazing  from  above  ! 
And  I  will  offer  to  him  here 

A  heart  that  glows  with  faithful  love. 
Kneel  down  with  me  ;  there  cannot  be 

For  Balder  fairer  sacrifice 
Than  faithful  hearts,  which  lovingly 

Unite  in  truth  as  firm  as  his. 


"  To  heaven,  more  than  earth,  my  love 

Belongs  ;  despise  it,  spurn  it  not ; 
For  it  was  born  in  heaven  above, 

And  longeth  homeward  to  be  brought. 
Oh,  would  we  were  already  sped  ! 

Oh,  would  we  could  together  die  ! 
That  I  triumphantly  might  lead 

My  pallid  Ingborg  to  the  sky. 


"  Then,  when  to  strife  the  warriors  went, 

Through  silver  portals  as  they  ride, 
I'd  gaze  on  thee,  a  trusty  friend, 

And  sit  rejoicing  by  thy  side. 
When  Valhall's  maidens  passed  around 

The  mead  horns,  crowned  with  foam  of  gold, 
To  thee  alone  my  pledge  should  sound, 

Thy  name  alone  with  love  be  told. 


50  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

"  On  some  fair  sea-surrounded  isle 

I'd  build  for  thee  a  bower  of  love, 
And  there  the  time  away  we'd  while, 

Midst  golden  fruits  in  shadowy  grove. 
And  when,  with  clear  and  lovely  ray, 

Valhalla's  sun  illumed  the  plain, 
Back  to  the  gods  we'd  take  our  way, 

But  long  to  reach  our  isle  again. 


"  And  I'd  adorn  with  starlight  glance 

The  golden  tresses  of  thy  head, 
And  high  in  Vingolf 's  hall  should  dance 

My  pallid  lily  rosy  red. 
Then  from  the  dance  my  love  I'd  bring 

To  bowers  of  peace,  in  fondness  true, 
And  Brage,  silver-bearded,  sing 

Thy  nuptial  song,  forever  new. 


"  How  sings  the  throstle  in  the  grove  ! 

Its  song  is  from  Valhalla's  strand  ; 
How  sweetly  shines  the  moon  above  ! 

It  shineth  from  the  spirits'  land. 
Both  song  and  shining  join  to  tell 

Of  worlds  of  love  unmarred  by  care  : 
Would  in  such  worlds  that  I  might  dwell 

With  thee — with  thee,  my  Ingborg  fair  ! 


FRITHIOF'S  JOY.  51 

"  Nay,  weep  not — weep  not ;  life  still  streams 

Within  my  veins  :  oh  !  weep  no  more. 
But  mortals'  love  and  mortals'  dreams 

Are  ever  upward  prone  to  soar. 
Ah  !  stretch  but  hitherward  thine  arms, 

Bend  but  thy  loving  eyes  on  me, 
And  see  !  how  soon  thy  fondness  charms 

Thy  dreamer  back  from  heaven  to  thcc." 


Hist !  'tis  tne  lark  ? "— "  Nay,  'tis  a  dove, 

That  cooeth  fondness  in  the  shade  ; 
The  lark  is  slumbering  'neath  the  grove, 

In  sheltered  nest  beside  its  mate. 
Oh  !  happy  they,  for  daylight  brings 

To  them  no  cause  for  dread  or  fear  ; 
Their  lives  are  free  as  are  the  wings 

That  skyward  waft  the  gladsome  pair. 


"  See  !  morning  dawns."—"  Nay,  'tis  the  glow 

Of  watchful  beacons  eastward  shed  ; 
Our  love  we  still  may  whisper  low, 

Nor  yet  the  happy  night  is  sped. 
Belate  thee,  golden  star  of  day  ! 

O  morning,  slumber,  slumber  still  ! 
For  Frithiof  may'st  thou  sleep  away 

Till  Ragnarok,  if  such  thy  will. 


52  FRITHIOF'8  SAGA. 

"  But  ah  !  in  vain  the  loving  hope  ; 

Already  morning's  breezes  blow, 
Already  eastern  roses  ope, 

As  bright  as  Ingborg's  cheek  can  glow. 
The  band  of  winge'd  songsters  twitters, 

All  joyous  in  the  bright'ning  sky  ; 
And  earth  awakes,  and  ocean  glitters, 

Away  must 'gloom  and  lovers  fly. 


"  Now  mounts  the  sun  in  majesty  : 

Forgive,  O  golden  god,  my  prayer  ; 
I  feel  thy  near  divinity  : 

How  noble  art  thou,  and  how  fair  ! 
Oh  !  that  I  so  my  path  could  tread, 

Like  thee,  in  majesty  and  might ; 
And,  proud  and  glad,  my  life  be  clad, 

Like  thine,  in  victory  and  light. 


"  Now  here,  before  thine  eyes,  I  set 

The  fairest  maiden  in  the  North  ; 
Watch  over  her,  O  Balder  great ! 

Thine  image  she  on  grassy  earth. 
Her  soul  is  spotless  as  thy  ray  ; 

Her  eye  is  as  thy  heaven  blue  ; 
And  thy  bright  gold,  that  decks  the  day, 

Glows  in  her  lovely  tresses  too. 


FRITHIOF'S  JOY.  S3 

"  Farewell,  my  Ingeborg  !  and  now 

Another  night  we  must  await. 
Farewell  !  one  kiss  upon  thy  brow, 

And  one  upon  thy  lips  so  sweet. 
Now  sleep  and  dream  of  me,  and,  waking, 

Still  on  our  love  in  fond  thought  dwell  ; 
Count  of  the  hours,  as  I  do,  taking  ; 

Loving,  as  I  do.     Fare  thee  well ! 


VIII. 
THE     PARTING. 

IXGEBORG. 

ALREADY  comes  the  day,  but  brings  not  Frithiof, 
Though  yesterday  the  open  Ting  was  held 
At  Bele's  grave  :  well  chosen  was  the  place 
Where  Bele's  daughter's  fate  should  be  decreed. 
How  many  fond  entreaties  did  it  cost, — 
How  many  bitter  tears, — by  Freya  told, 
To  melt  the  ice  of  hate  round  Frithiof 's  heart, 
And  win  the  promise  from  his  haughty  lips, 
Once  more  to  offer  a  forgiving  hand  ? 
Ah  !  man  is  stern,  and  for  his  own  vain  pride, 
Miscalled  his  honor,  he  hath  little  care — 
Ay,  less  than  care — how  easily  he  may 
Torture  and  wound  a  fondly  loving  heart. 
And  hapless  woman,  clinging  to  his  breast, 
Is  like  the  growth  of  moss,  which  on  the  cliff, 
Blooming  in  pallor,- difficultly  keeps 
Its  hold  unmarked  upon  the  sturdy  rock, 
Drawing  its  nurture  from  the  dews  of  night. 
(54) 


THE  PARTING.  5 

And  yesterday  my  fate  hath  been  decreed  ! 
And  over  it  the  evening  sun  hath  set : 
Yet  Frithiof  cometh  not.     The  pallid  stars 
Wane  one  by  one,  and  vanish  and  depart, 
And  with  each  gleam,  that  slowly  fades  away, 
Some  hope  within  me  sinketh  to  the  grave. 
Yet,  wherefore  should  I  hope  ?     Valhalla's  powers 
Owe  me  no  favor,  by  myself  estranged  : 
The  mighty  Balder,  in  whose  shrine  I  dwell, 
I  have  offended  :  for  no  mortal's  love 
Is  pure  enough  for  such  a  god's  beholding  ; 
And  earthly  joys  should  never  dare  to  come 
Wherever  they,  the  holy  and  sublime 
Rulers  of  heaven,  have  their  dwelling  made. 
And  yet,  what  crime  is  mine  ?     The  gentle  god 
Could  ne'er  be  angry  at  a  maiden's  love. 
Is  it  not  pure,  as  Urda's  silver  wave — 
And  innocent,  as  Gefion's  morning  dream  ? 
The  lofty  Sun  hath  never  turned  away 
Its  eye  of  brightness  from  a  loving  pair  ; 
And  starry  Night,  the  widow  of  the  Day, 
Amidst  her  mourning  hears  their  vows  with  joy. 
Can  what  is  holy  'neath-the  vaulted  sky 
Become  a  crime  beneath  a  temple's  dome  ? 
!  love  my  Frithiof,  and  have  ever  loved  ; 
Far  as  my  furthest  recollections  go, 
Growth  of  my  growth,  that  love  hath  ever  been  : 
When  it  be^an  I  never  knew  ;  can  tell 


56  FR1THIOF'8  SAGA. 

No  hour  of  life  that  hath  not  been  of  love. 

And  as  the  fruit  is  formed  around  the  core, 

And,  clinging  there,  in  Nature's  time  becomes, 

Beneath  the  sunbeams,  like  a  ball  of  gold, 

So  have  I  too  grown  up,  and  ripening  glad 

Around  this  kernel,  all  my  being  is 

Only  the  outward  shell  that  holds  my  love. 

Forgive  me,  Balder  !     See,  a  faithful  heart 

Into  thy  halls  I  brought — with  such  alone 

Will  I  depart ;  and  speed,  with  such  alone, 

Over  bright  Bifrost's  bridge  ;  with  such  alone 

Stand,  faithful  still,  before  Valhalla's  gods. 

There  shall  my  love,  a  child  of  heaven,  like  them, 

Mirror  itself  in  shining  shields,  and  fly 

On  dove-like  pinion  through  the  endless  space 

Of  azure  heaven  to  Allfader's  breast, 

From  whence  it  came.     Oh  !  wherefore  darkenest 

thou, 

In  the  gray  dawn,  thy  gentle  brow  with  frowns  ? 
The  blood  of  mighty  Odin  fills  my  veins 
As  well  as  thine  :  but  oh  !  not  e'en  to  thee, 
Great  kinsman,  can  I  sacrifice  my  love, 
Worth  more  to  me  than  all  this  boundless  heaven. 
Yet  can  I  offer  all  my  joy  of  life, 
And  cast  it  from  me,  even  as  a  queen 
Can  cast  away  her  royal  robe,  and  still 
Remain  the  queen  she  was.     Well  !  'tis  decreed 
Valhalla's  great  ones  shall  not  need  to  blush 


THE  PARTING.  57 

For  their  descendant.     I  will  meet  my  fate 

As  heroes  meet  with  theirs.     Here  cometh  Frithiof ; 

How  wild — how  pale  !     All,  all  is  lost — is  lost ! 

With  him  approacheth,  too,  my  angry  Nome. 

Be  strong  my  heart ! — Oh  !  welcome,  though  how 

late! 

Our  fate  is  sealed  ;  too  easily  I  read 
It  on  thy  brow. 

FRITHIOF. 

Stand  there  also  there 

No  blood-red  Runes,  bespeaking  scorn  and  shame, 
Insult  and  ban  ? 

INGEBORG. 

Oh  !  Frithiof,  calm  thyself. 
Tell  me  thy  tale  :  the  worst  my  fears  foretold 
Full  long  ago.  For  all  am  I  prepared. 

FRITHIOF. 

"I  reached  the  Ting,  where  stand  our  fathers'  tombs, 
And  round  its  grassy  sides,  shield  crowning  shield, 
And  sword  in  hand,  the  Northland's  sons  arrayed, 
One  ring  within  another  gathered,  stood 
Up  to  the  summit ;  on  the  judging-stone, 
Like  a  dark  thunder-cloud,  King  Helge  sate, — 
The  pallid  sacrificer,  with  forbidding  looks  ; 
And  by  him,  thoughtless,  leaning  on  his  sword, 
A  fair,  well-fashioned  youth,  King  Halfdan  sate. 
3* 


58  FRITHIOF^S  SAGA. 

Then  stood  I  forth,  and  cried  :  "  War  cometh  near  ; 
The  foemen's  shields  upon  our  borders  clash. 
King  Helge,  peril  threateneth  thy  realm. 
Give  me  thy  sister,  and  I  bring  to  thee 
This  arm  to  combat,  which  may  service  do, 
And  let  our  former  quarrel  be  forgot. 
With  Ingborg's  kindred  love  I  not  to  strive. 
Bethink  thee,  monarch,  and  together  save 
Thy  golden  crown,  thy  sister's  happiness. 
Here  is  my  hand  ;  by  Thor  divine,  no  more 
Than  this  last  time  I  offer  it  for  peace." 
A  shout  filled  all  the  Ting,  a  thousand  swords 
Clashed  loud  approval  on  a  thousand  shields. 
Far  fled  the  sounds  into  the  lofty  skies, 
Which  drank  the  shouts  of  freemen  for  the  right : 
"  Oh  !  give  him  Ingeborg,  the  gentle  lily ; 
No  fairer  ever  in  our  valleys  bloomed  : 
His  is  the  bravest  sword  in  all  the  land. 
Oh  !  give  him  Ingeborg."     Our  foster-father, 
The  aged  Hilding,  with  the  silvery  beard, 
Stood  forth,  and  spake,  in  words  of  wisdom  deep, 
Short,   pithy  pleas,    which    rang    like    strokes    of 

swords. 

And  Halfdan,  rising  from  the  royal  seat, 
Himself  besought,  with  many  a  word  and  sign. 
All  was  in  vain,  and  bootless  every  prayer 
So  beaming  sunshine,  on  the  barren  rock, 
No  fruit  enticeth  from  its  stony  heart ; 


THE  PARTING.  59 

And  Helgc's  dark,  unchanging  visage  spake 
To  all  entreaties  still  a  ghastly  Nay. 
"  A  yeoman's  son/'  said  he,  at  length,  in  scorn, 
"  Might  wed  with  Ingborg  ;  but  to  Valhall's  daughter 
Becometh  ill  a  sacrilegious  mate. 
Hast  thou  not,  Frithiof,  broken  Balder's  peace  ? 
Hast  thou  not  seen  my  sister  in  his  shrine, 
When  Day  had  hid  itself  before  the  crime  ? 
Answer  me,  Yea,  or  Nay  !  "     Loud  rose  a  cry 
Amidst  the  crowd  of  men :    "  Say  Nay — say  only 

Nay, 

Thou  Thorsten's  mighty  son,  almost  a  king  ; 
Thy  wrord  we  trust,  and  we  for  thee  will  sue  ; 
Only  say  Nay,  and  Ingeborg  is  thine." 
"  My  joy  of  life  hangs  on  a  single  word," 
I  said  ;  "  yet  fear  not  therefore  thou,  O  King  ! 
I  would  not  lie  for  all  Valhalla's  bliss, 
Then  scarce  for  earthly  joy  :  I  saw  thy  sister, 
And  spake  with  her  at  night-time  in  the  temple  ; 
Yet  thus  I  never  broke  the  peace  of  Balder."    Here 
I  had  to  cease.     A  scream  of  horrid  fear 
Spread  through  the  Ting  ;  those  who  beside  me  stood 
Fell  off  as  from  a  plague-besmitten  man. 
Where'er  I  looked,  their  superstitious  fear 
Had  hushed  each  tongue,  and  every  face  was  pale, 
Which  just  before  had  flushed  with  joyous  hope. 
There  conquered  Helge  :  then,  in  ghastly  tones, 
Hollow  and  deep  (like  those  of  Vala  dread, 


60  FRITHIOF'S  SAO  A. 

In  Vegtamsquida,  when  to  Odin  singing 

Of  Hela's  triumph,  and  the  Asen's  fall), 

Thus  spake  he  gloomy  :  "  Banishment  or  death 

I  might  denounce  by  our  ancestral  laws 

Against  thy  sin  ;  but  I  will  show  me  mild 

As  Balder  is,  whose  holiness  thou'st  slighted. 

In  western  ocean  doth  a  cluster  lie 

Of  islands,  where  Jarl  Angantyr  bears  sway  : 

A  stated  yearly  tribute  paid  the  Jarl 

While  Bele  lived,  but  never  since  his  death. 

Cross  thou  the  sea,  and  fetch  that  tribute  back, 

So  may  thy  service  for  thy  sin  atone." 

Then  in  mean  scorn  he  added  :  "  Hard  of  hand, 

They  say,  he  is  ;  and,  like  the  dragon  Fafner, 

He  watcheth  o'er  his  gold  ;  but  who  can  stand 

Against  our  second  Sigurd,  Fafner's  bane  ? 

This  shall  a  worthier  adventure  prove 

Than  maidens  to  beguile  in  Balder's  grove. 

Next  summer  let  us  see  thee  homeward  wend 

With  all  thy  glory,  and  thy  treasure  too  : 

Else  shalt  thou  be  a  knave  in  Northmen's  eyes  ; 

And  all  thy  lifetime  peaceless  in  the  land." 

Such  was  his  speech  ;  and  so  the  Ting  dispersed. 

INGEBORG. 

And  now  thy  purpose  ? 

FRITHIOF. 

Have  I  aught  to  choose  ? 


THE  PARTING.  61 

Hangeth  my  honor  not  on  his  demand  ? 

And  I  must  free  it — ay,  if  Angantyr 

His  wretched  gold  in  Nastrand's  waves  should  hide. 

This  day  shall  I  depart. 

INGEBORG. 

And  leavest  me  ? 

FRITHIOF. 

Nay,  nay,  I  leave  thee  not ;  thou,  too,  shalt  come. 

IXGEBORG. 

Impossible  ! 

FRITHIOF. 

O  Ingborg,  hear  me  first. 
Thy  crafty  brother  seemeth  to  forget 
That  Angantyr  hath  been  my  father's  friend, 
As  well  as  Bele's  ;  and  he  yet  may  give 
With  good  will  what  I  ask  :  should  he  refuse, 
I  have  a  sharp-tongued,  mighty  advocate 
My  cause  to  plead  ;  it  hangeth  by  my  side. 
The  gold  he  loves  to  Helge  I  will  send, 
Freeing  forever,  thus,  myself  and  thee 
From  service  to  this  crowne'd  hypocrite. 
But  we  ourselves,  my  Ingborg  fair,  will  spread 
Ellida's  sails  ;  and  over  seas  unknown 
She'll  bear  us  bounding  to  a  happier  land, 
And  find  sweet  shelter  for  our  banished  love. 


62  FIIITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

What  care  have  I  for  Northland — for  a  race 

Who,  when  their  priests  but  speak,  in  fear  grow  pale, 

And  rude  would  tear  the  flow'r-crowned  cup  of  life 

From  out  the  sanctuary  of  my  heart  ? 

By  Freya,  nay,  they  never  shall  succeed  ! 

None  but  a  slave  will  to  his  mother-soil 

Be  chained  unwilling  ;  I  will  wander  free, 

Free  as  the  mountain  winds.     A  little  clay 

Gathered  from  Bele's  and  my  father's  graves 

Finds  place  upon  our  bark  ;  and  that  is  all 

That  we  of  Fatherland  can  ever  need. 

O  my  beloved,  warmer  sunshine  glows 

Than  our  pale  light  above  the  snowy  hills  ; 

And  we  can  find  a  fairer  heaven  than  here, 

Where  gentle  stars  with  .god-like  beam  glance  down, 

And  in  the  happy,  balmy  summer  night 

Watch  in  the  laurel-groves  each  loving  pair. 

Full  far  my  father,  Thorsten,  Viking's  son, 

Wandered  in  warfare  ;  and  full  oft  he  told 

By  blazing  hearth,  through  the  long  winter  nights, 

Of  southern  ocean,  with  its  islands  fair  : 

Green  groves  reflected  in  the  shining  waves. 

In  days  of  old  ruled  there  a  mighty  race  ; 

And  gods  tremendous  in  their  marble  shrines  : 

But  now  forsaken  stand  they.     Grass  grows  o'er 

The  mounds  deserted  ;  and  wild  flowers  hide 

Inscriptions  which  the  old  world's  wisdom  show. 

Ruins  of  tapering  pillows  there  grow  green, 


THE  PARTING.  63 

Covered  with  leaves  of  clinging  southern  weeds, 
And  all  around  the  lovely  earth  brings  forth 
Harvests  unsown  of  all  that  men  can  need. 
And  golden  fruits  on  shadowy  branches  glow  : 
There  grapes  in  heavy  clusters  on  the  vine 
Hang  purple-red,  and  ripe  as  thy  sweet  lips  : — 
There,  Ingeborg,  we'll  found  beyond  the  waves 
Another  Northland,  fairer  far  than  here  ; 
And  with  our  faithful  love  rejoice  once  more 
Deserted  shrines  and  temples,  and  delight 
With  mortal  fondness  the  forgotten  gods. 
Then  if  some  mariner  with  flapping  sail 
(For  there  no  storms  engage)  drift  past  our  isle 
By  rosy  sunset,  and  with  joyous  gaze 
Look  from  the  ruddy  ocean  to  the  strand, 
Then  on  the  temple's  threshold  shall  he  see 
Thee,  a  new  Freya  (her,  methinks,  they  name 
In  their  tongue  Aphrodite) — shall  behold 
Thy  golden  locks  light  floating  in  the  breeze  ; 
Thine  eyes  more  radiant  than  the  southern  sky. 
And  growing  round  thee,  coming  by  degrees, 
A  temple-dwelling  little  Alfen-race 
With  flushing  cheeks,  as  if  the  South  had  set 
All  its  fair  roses  in  the  northern  snows. 
Ah  !  Ingeborg,  how  fair,  how  near  doth  stand 
Each  earthly  joy  to  two  fond,  loving  hearts  ! 
If  boldly  grasped  whene'er  its  time  be  come, 
It  follows  willingly,  and  builds  for  them 


64  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

A  Vingolf  even  here  on  earth  below. 

Come,  hasten  !  even  now  each  word  we  speak 

Stealeth  away  an  instant  from  our  joy. 

All  is  prepared,  and,  eager  for  her  flight, 

Ellida  flaps  her  darkling  eagle-wings, 

And  the  fresh-breathing  north  wind  calls  us  forth 

For  ever  from  this  superstitious  shore. 

How  ?     Lingerest  thou  ? 

INGEBORG. 

Alas  !  I  cannot  follow  thee. 


FRITHIOF. 

Not  follow  me  ? 

INGEBORG. 

Ah  !  Frithiof,  thou  art  happy  ! 
Following  no  man,  thou  canst  forward  go, 
Like  thy  swift  vessel ;  at  the  rudder  stands 
Thy  will  alone  ;  and  so  thou  steerest  forth, 
With  steady  hand,  above  the  angry  waves. 
Alas  !  how  different  my  lot  must  be  ! 
My  destiny  in  other  hands  must  lie, 
Which  yield  not  up  their  prey,  although  it  bleed. 
Self-sacrifice,  and  grief,  and  pining  is 
The  freedom  of  the  daughter  of  a  king. 


THE  PARTING.  65 

FRITHIOF. 

Art  thou  not  free,  whene'er  thou  wilt  ? — sitteth  thy  sire 
Not  in  his  grave  ? 

INGEBORG. 

Ah  !  Helge  is  my  father, 
Or  standeth  in  his  place  ;  without  his  will 
I  cannot  wed  :  and  Bele's  daughter  steals 
No  happiness,  however  near  it  lie. 
For  what  were  woman,  thus  self-willed,  to  break 
Those  bonds  wherewith  the  wise  Allfader  linketh 
Ever  the  weaker  being  to  the  strong  ? 
In  the  pale  water-lily  is  her  type, 
Ginking  or  rising  on  the  changing  waves  ; 
Above  it  speeds  the  sailor's  keel  away, 
And  recks  not  how  it  wound  the  tender  stem  : 
Such  is  its  destiny  ;  and  yet,  as  long 
As  clings  the  root  tenacious  in  the  sand, 
It  sprouteth  ever  forth  ;  its  pallid  hues 
It  borroweth  from  sister-stars  above, 
Itself  a  star  upon  the  azure  deep  : 
But,  by  the  roots  uptorn,  it  drifts  away, 
A  faded  leaf  upon  the  desert  wave. 
Last  night — and  oh  !  a  wretched  night  it  was — 
Anxious  as  watch'd  I,  and  thou  earnest  not, 
Thoughts  all-terrific,  offspring  of  the  night, 
The  raven-locked,  passed  constantly  before 
My  waking  eyes,  which  burned,  but  could  not  weep, 


66  FRITIIIOF'S  SAGA. 

Balder  himself,  the  bloodless  god,  did  seem 

To  bend  upon  me  glances  filled  with  rage. 

And  so,  last  night,  I  have  revolved  my  fate, 

And  thus  determined  :  I  will  linger  here, 

Submissive  victim  to  my  brother's  will. 

Yet  it  is  well  that  then  I  had  not  heard 

Thy  hope-breathed  dreams  of  cloud-imagined  isles, 

Where  ever  glows  the  heavenly  sunset's  light 

O'er  flow'ry  lands  of  tranquil  peace  and  love. 

How  few  can  tell  how  weak  we  are  ;  the  dreams 

Of  childhood,  long-forgotten,  rise  anew 

And  whisper  in  my  ear  with  gentle  tones 

As  well  remembered  as  a  sister's  voice, — 

As  sweet  and  tender  as  a  lover's  tones. 

But  now  I  will  not  hearken,  will  not  heecl 

Those  sweet,  persuading,  once  beloved  words  ! 

Can  I,  the  Northland's  child,  there  southwards  dwell  ? 

I  am  too  pale  for  southern  roses'  bloom  : 

Too  colorless  my  thought  for  Southland's  glow. 

It  would  be  melted  'neath  its  burning  sun  ; 

And  longingly  my  weary  eye  would  strain 

Towards  the  bright  north-star,  which  unchanging 

keeps 

Its  heavenly  watch  above  our  fathers'  graves. 
My  noble  Frithiof  shall  not  fly  away 
From  the  dear  fatherland  he  should  defend, 
Nor  ever  cast  his  wide-spread  fame  aside 
For  such  a  trifle  as  a  maiden's  love. 


THE  PARTING.  67 

A  life  in  which  the  sun  spins  year  by  year, 
Each  day  unvarying  from  the  day  before, 
A  sameness  beautiful,  but  everlasting, 
May  suit  for  maidens  ;  but  for  manly  souls 
Like  thine  a  tranquil  life  is  wearisome. 
Thou  thrivest  best  when  storms  tumultuous  ride 
Their  foaming  battle-steeds  across  the  seas, 
And  on  a  swaying  plank,  for  life  or  death 
Battiest  with  peril  for  the  meed  of  fame. 
The  lovely  desert  thou  hast  painted  were 
A  grave  untimely  for  thine  unborn  deeds  ; 
Together  with  thy  shield,  thy  free-born  soul 
Would  gather  rust.     Oh  hthat  shall  never  be  : 
Ne'er  will  I  steal  away  my  Frithiof 's  name 
From  Skalden  songs,  and  never  will  I  quench 
My  hero's  glory  in  its  rosy  dawn. 
Be  wise,  my  Frithiof ;  let  us  yield  before 
The  mighty  Nornes,  and,  so  submitting,  save 
At  least  our  honor  from  the  wreck  of  fate  ; 
Our  joy  of  life  we  can  no  longer  save. 
So  we  must  separate. 

FRITHIOF. 

But  wherefore  so — 
Because  a  sleepless  night  thy  mind  disturbs  ? 

INGEBORG. 

Because  thy  safety  and  my  worth  demand. 


68  FRITH lOF'S  SAGA. 

FRITHIOF. 

A  woman's  worth  in  manly  love  is  found. 

INGEBORG. 

He  loves  not  long  who  doth  not  honor  too. 

FRITHIOF. 

Inconstant  stubbornness  no  honor  wins. 

INGEBORG. 

A  noble  stubbornness  is  love  of  right. 

FRITHIOF. 

But  yesterday  it  strove  not  with  our  love. 

INGEBORG. 

Nor  doth  to-day,  but  with  our  flight  the  more. 

FRITHIOF. 

It  is  necessity  that  calls  us.     Come  ! 

INGEBORG. 

Needful  alone  is  what  is  right  and  noble. 

FRITHIOF. 

High  mounts  the  sun,  the  time  is  fleeting  by. 

INGEBORG. 

Ah  me  !  it  is  gone  by— gone  by  for  ever. 


THE  PARTING.  69 

FRITHIOF. 

Bethink  thee  well, — is  this  thy  last  resolve  ? 

INGEBORG. 

I  have  bethought  me  well,  and  so  resolve. 

FRITHIOF. 

Farewell,  then,  Helge's  sister — fare  thee  well  ! 

INGEBORG. 

O  Frithiof,  Frithiof,  is  it  thus  we  sever  ? 
And  hast  thou,  then,  no  kindly  glance  for  me, 
Thy  childhood's  friend  ;  hast  thou  no,  hand  to  offer 
To  her  unhappy,  whom  thou  once  didst  love  ? 
Think'st  thou  I  stand  on  roses  here,  and  cast 
Away  with  senseless  smile  my  lifetime's  joy, 
Uprooting  from  my  heart  without  a  pang, 
The  hope  belov'd  which  with  my  growth  hath  grown  ? 
Hast  thou  not  been  the  day-dream  of  my  heart  ? 
All  that  I  ever  knew  of  joy  was  Frithiof ; 
And  all  that  life  hath  generous  or  brave 
Forever  in  my  mind  thy  image  took. 
Oh  !  shadow  not  that  image  to  me  ;  meet 
With  harshness  not  the  poor  weak  girl,  who  offers 
All  that  on  earth's  wide  circuit  she  holds  dear, — 
All  that  can  dearest  be  in  ValhalPs  halls. 
Frithiof,  this  sacrifice  is  hard  enough, 
A  word  of  comfort  it  mi^ht  well  deserve. 


70  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

I  know  them  lovest  me  ;  I  knew  it  well, 
Already  when  our  days  began  to  bloom, 
And  surely  shall  thy  Ingborg's  love  pursue 
Thee  many  a  year,  where'er  thou  mayest  wend. 
But  din  of  arms  at  length  will  dull  thy  grief, 
Which,  floating  far  upon  the  stormy  waves, 
Will  find  no  place  beside  thee  on  the  bench, 
When,  glad  with  victory,  thou  drain'st  the  horn. 
Yet  now  and  then,  when  in  the  peace  of  night 
Thou  musterest  memories  of  the  bygone  days, 
Amongst  them  may  flit  by  an  image  pale 
Well  known  to  thee,  and  bringing  greeting  fond 
Of  thy  dear  home,  and  it  shall  bear  the  form 
Of  the  pale  maid  who  dwells  in  Balder's  grove. 
Thou  wilt  not  drive  it  from  thee,  though  its  glance 
May  troubled  seem  ;  ah  !  whisper  but  a  word, 
One  word  of  friendship  to  it,  and  the  winds 
Of  night  on  faithful  wings  will  waft  it  me  ; 
One  comfort  left,  the  only  one  I  own  : 
For  I  have  nothing  to  disperse  my  grief ; 
All  that  surroundeth  me  recalleth  it : 
These  lofty  temple  halls  but  speak  of  thee  ; 
Even  Balder's  image  in  the  still  moonlight, 
Threatening  no  longer,  seems  thy  form  to  take. 
Seaward  I  look, — there  swam  thy  keel,  and  clave 
Its  way  to  me  awaiting  on  the  strand. 
Landward  I  look, — there  standeth  many  a  stem 
With  Ingborg's  name  deep  carved  upon  the  bark  : 


THE  PARTING,  71 

The  trees  stretch  out,  and  so  the  name  grows  faint, 

'Tis  but  a  token,  as  they  say,  of  death. 

I  ask  of  daylight,  when  it  saw  thee  last  ? 

Of  night  I  ask,  but  she  remaineth  still. 

Even  the  sea,  which  beareth  thee,  returneth 

My  questions  only  with  a  sigh  to  shore. 

Greetings  I'll  send  thee  in  the  sunset  red, 

Quenching  its  fires  afar  amongst  thy  waves. 

Each  cloud-ship  that  sails  through  the  sky  shall  bear 

A  freight  of  sorrow  from  the  lonely  one. 

So  in  the  maiden's  chamber  will  I  sit, 

A  dark-clad  widow,  mourning  for  her  joy  ; 

Embroidering  broken  lilies  in  the  frame, 

Till  Spring  a  newly-woven  carpet  spread, 

Covered  with  sweeter  lilies,  o'er  my  grave  ; 

Or,  taking  up  my  harp,  my  endless  woe 

Breathe  forth  in  deepest  tones  of  misery, 

Or  burst  in  tears,  as  now. 

FRITHIOF. 

Thou  conquerest,  child  of  Bele  ;  weep  no  more  ; 
Forgive  my  anger  :  ah  !  'twas  nought  but  grief, 
Which  for  a  moment  borrowed  anger's  garb, — 
A  garb  which  I  can  never  carry  long. 
Oh  !  Ingeborg,  thou  art  my  Norna  good  ; 
The  noble  best  nobility  can  teach  ; 
The  wisdom  of  necessity  can  have 
Never  a  better  advocate  than  thee, 


72  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

Oh  !  lovely  Vala,  with  the  rosy  lips. 
Yes,  I  will  yield  before  necessity, — 
Will  part  from  thee,  but  never  part  from  hope. 
Hope  I'll  bear  with  me  o'er  the  western  waves, 
I'll  bear  it  with  me  to  the  gates  of  death. 
With  the  first  spring-day  will  I  hie  me  home  ; 
Me  shall  King  Helge  soon,  I  trust,  behold, 
My  vow  accomplished,  and  my  task  fulfilled, 
The  crime  forgiven  of  which  I  stand  accused. 
Then  shall  I  ask  thee — nay,  shall  claim  thy  hand 
Upon  the  open  Ting,  'midst  naked  swords, 
From  Helge  not,  but  from  the  Northland  race, 
That  is  thy  sponsor  true,  thou  child  of  kings. 
I  have  a  word  for  him  who  shall  refuse. 
Till  then,  farewell — be  true,  remember  me  ; 
And  take,  in  memory  of  our  childhood's  love, 
My  arm-ring  here,  Valunder's  beauteous  work, 
With  heavenly  wonders  graven  on  the  gold  ; 
Still  worthier  wonder  is  a  faithful  heart. 
How  well  it  clingeth  to  thy  dazzling  arm — 
A  glow-worm  glittering  on  a  lily-stem. 
Farewell,  my  bride,  my  darling — fare  thee  well ! 
Bide  a  few  moons,  and  all  our  grief  is  changed. 

(He  goes.} 

INGEBORG. 

How  proud,  how  valiant,  and  how  strong  in  hope  ! 
The  point  he  setteth  of  his  trusty  sword 


THE  PARTING.  73 

At  Norna's  breast,  and  crieth,  "  Thou  must  yield  !  " 
Alas  !  my  poor  Frithiof,  Norna  never  yields  ; 
She  goes  her  way,  and  laughs  at  Angurvadel. 
How  little  knowest  thou  my  sullen  brother  ! 
Thine  open,  valiant  soul  can  never  fathom 
The  gloomy  depths  of  his  ;  nor  tell  the  hate 
That  burneth  fiercely  in  his  envious  breast. 
His  sister's  hand  to  thee  he'll  never  give. 
Far  sooner  will  he  risk  his  crown,  his  life, 
And  offer  me  to  hoary  Odin,  or 
To  agdd  Ring,  with  whom  he  now  contends. 
Where'er  I  look,  I  see  no  hope  for  me  ; 
Yet  am  I  glad,  it  liveth  in  thine  heart. 
So  I  will  keep  my  sorrow  for  myself, 
And,  oh  !  may  all  the  good  gods  follow  thee  ! 
Thine  arm-ring  here  shall  help  me  well  to  tell 
The  dreary  months  off,  in  consuming  care  ; 
Two,  four,  and  six,— then  mayest  thou  return. 
But  never  find  again  thine  Ingeborg. 
4 


IX. 
INGEBORG'S    LAMENTATION. 

u     A    UTUMN  is  here  ; 

L\.     High-heaving  Ocean  its  waves  doth  rear  ; 
And  still,  here,  far  from  my  home, 
Gladly  I'd  roam. 

"  Long  did  I  view 

His  sail  in  the  west,  on  its  course  as  it  flew ; 
Oh  !  happy,  my  Frithiof  to  follow 
Over  the  billow. 

"  Ye  blue  billows  rough. 
Swell  not  so  high  ;  ye  speed  swiftly  enough. 
Shine  brightly,  ye  stars,  to  display 
To  my  Frithiof  his  way. 

11  He  will  be  home 

With  Spring  ;  but  his  dear  one  will  come 
No  more  to  his  love-breathing  call 
In  valley  or  hall. 
(74) 


IXGEBOR&S  LAMENTATION.  75 

"  Ghastly,  and  cold 
To   the   voice   of   his   love,    she    shall    lie   in   the 

mould  ; 

Or,  offered  for  her  brother's  need, 
Lamenting,  bleed. 

"  Thou,  his  falcon,  art  left ; 
Mine  shalt  thou  be,  and  I'll  treasure  the  gift ; 
But  by  me,  thou  wing'cl  hunter  of  heaven, 
Thy  food  shall  be  given. 

"  Thy  place  thou  shalt  claim, 
Displayed  on  his  wrist  on  the  'broidering  frame  ; 
Thy  wings  of  silver  folding, 
Thy  talons  golden. 

"  Freya,  in  need, 
Took    falcon's    wings    once,    through    creation   to 

speed, 

And  her  Oedur  belove'd  sought  forth 
In  south  and  in  north. 

"  E'en  couldest  thou  share 
Thy  pinions  with  me,  scarce  my  weight  could  they 

bear  : 

'Tis  death,  and  death  only,  that  brings 
Celestial  wings. 


76  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

"  Sky-hunter  brave, 

Perch  on  my  shoulder,  and  gaze  o'er  the  wave. 
Alas  !  how  long  may  we  gaze 
While  Frithiof  delays. 


When  I  am  dead, 

He  will  return  ;  to  my  message  give  heed — 
Welcome  and  comfort,  over  and  over, 
My  sorrowing  lover." 


X. 
FRITHIOF    AT    SEA. 

NOW,  King  Helge  stood 
In  fury  on  the  strand, 
And  in  embittered  mood 
Adjured  the  Storm-fiend's  band. 

Gloomy  is  the  heaven  growing, 

Through  desert  skies  the  thunders  roar, 
In  the  deep  the  billows  brewing 

Cream  with  foam  the  surface  o'er. 
Lightnings  cleave  the  storm-cloud,  seeming 

Blood-red  gashes  in  its  side  ; 
And  all  the  sea-birds,  wildly  screaming, 

Fly  the  terrors  of  the  tide. 

"  Storm  is  coming,  comrades  ; 
Its  angry  wings  I  hear 
Flapping  in  the  distance, 
But  fearless  we  may  be. 

(77) 


78  FRITHIOF'8  SAGA. 

Sit  tranquil  in  the  grove, 
And  fondly  think  on  me, 
Lovely  in  thy  sorrow, 
Beauteous  Ingeborg." 


Now  two  storm-fiends  came 
Against  Ellida's  side  ; 

One  was  wind-cold  Ham, 
One  was  snowy  Heyd. 

Loose  set  they  the  tempest's  pinions, 

Down  diving  in  ocean  deep, 
Billows,  from  unseen  dominions, 

To  the  god's  abode  they  sweep. 
All  the  powers  of  frightful  death, 

Astride  upon  the  rapid  wave, 
Rise  from  the  foaming  depths  beneath, 

The  bottomless,  unfathomed  grave. 

*'  Fairer  was  our  journey 
Beneath  the  shining  moon, 
Over  the  mirrory  ocean, 
To  Balder's  sacred  grove. 
Warmer  far  than  here 
Was  Ingborg's  loving  heart ; 
Whiter  than  the  sea-foam 
Heaved  her  gentle  breast." 


FRITHIOF  AT  SEA.  79 

Now  Solundar-oe 

Ariseth  from  the  foam  ; 
Calmer  the  sea  doth  grow 

As  near  the  port  they  come. 

But  for  safety  valiant  Viking 

Will  not  readily  delay  ; 
At  the  helm  he  stands,  delighting 

In  the  tempest's  stormy  play. 
Now  the  sheets  more  close  belaying, 

Swifter  through  the  surge  he  cleaves  ; 
Westward,  further  westward  flying 

Lightly  o'er  the  rapid  waves. 

"  Yet  longer  do  I  find  it  sweet 
To  battle  with  the  breeze, 
Thunderstorm  and  Northman  meet, 

Exulting  on  the  seas. 
For  shame  might  Ingborg  blush, 
If  her  osprey  flew, 
Frightened  by  a  storm-stroke, 
Heavy-winged  to  land." 


Now  ocean  fierce  battles  ; 

The  wave-troughs  deeper  grow, 
The  whistling  cordage  rattles, 

The  planks  creak  loud  below. 


So  FRITHIOF'S   SAGA. 

But  though  higher  waves  appearing 

Seem  like  mountains  to  engage, 
Brave  Ellida,  never  fearing, 

Mocks  the  angry  ocean's  rage. 
Like  a  meteor,  flashing  brightness, 

Darts  she  forth,  with  dauntless  breast, 
Bounding,  with  a  roebuck's  lightness, 

Over  trough  and  over  crest. 

"  Sweeter  were  the  kisses 
Of  Ingborg,  in  the  grove, 
Than  here  to  taste  in  tempest 
High-sprinkled,  briny  foam. 
Better  the  royal  daughter 
Of  Bele  to  embrace, 
Than  here,  in  anxious  labor, 
The  tiller  fast  to  hold." 


Whirling  cold  and  fast, 
Snow-wreaths  fill  the  sail ; 

Over  deck  and  mast 
Patters  heavy  hail. 

The  very  stem  they  see  no  more, 

So  thick  is  darkness  spread  ; 
As  doom  and  horror  hover  o'er 

O 

The  chamber  of  the  dead. 


FRITHIOF  AT  SEA.  81 

Still  to  sink  the  sailor  dashes 

Implacable  each  angry  wave  ; 
Gray,  as  if  bestrewn  with  ashes, 

Yawns  the  endless,  awful  grave. 

"  For  us,  in  bed  of  ocean, 
Azure  pillows  Ran  prepares  ;  - 
On  thy  pillow,  Ingeborg, 
Thou  thinkest  upon  me. 
Higher  ply,  my  comrades, 
Ellida's  sturdy  oars  ; 
Good  ship,  heaven-fashioned, 
Bear  us  on  an  hour." 


O'er  the  side  apace 

Now  a  sea  hath  leapt : 
In  an  instant's  space 

Clear  the  deck  is  swept. 

From  his  arm  now  Frithiof  hastens 

To  draw  his  ring,  three  marks  in  weight ; 
Like  the  morning  sun  it  glistens, 

The  golden  gift  of  Bele  great. 
With  his  sword  in  pieces  cutting 

The  famous  work  of  pigmies'  art, 
Shares  he  quickly,  none  forgetting, 

Unto  every  man  a  part. 
4'* 


82  FRITHIOF^S  SAGA. 

"  Gold  is  good  possession 
When  one  goes  a-wooing  ; 
Let  none  go  empty-handed 
Down  to  azure  Ran. 
Icy  are  her  kisses, 
Fickle  her  embraces  ; 
But  we'll  charm  the  sea-bride 
With  our  ruddy  gold." 


Fiercer  than  at  first, 
Again  the  storm  attacks, 

And  the  sails  are  burst, 
And  the  rudder  cracks. 

O'er  the  ship  half  buried  tearing, 

Now  the  waves  an  entrance  gain  ; 
At  the  pumps  the  crew,  despairing, 

Fail  to  drive  them  forth  again. 
Frithiof  now  no  longer  doubteth 

That  he  Death  hath  got  on  board, 
Still  above  the  storm  he  shouteth, 

Dauntless,  with  commanding  word. 

"  Bjorn,  come  to  the  rudder  ; 
Hold  it  tight  as  bear's  hug  ; 
Valhall's  power  sendeth 
No  such  storm  as  this. 


FRIT HIO F AT  SEA.  83 

Now  at  work  is  magic  : 
Coward  Helge  singeth 
Spells  above  the  ocean  : 
I  will  mount  to  see." 


Like  as  martins  fly, 
Sped  he  up  the  mast, 

And  thence,  seated  high, 
A  glance  around  he  cast. 

A  whale  before  Ellida  gliding, 

Like  a  loose  island,  seeth  he, 
And  two  base  ocean  demons  riding, 

Upon  his  back,  the  stormy  sea. 
Heyd,  in  snow-garb  shining  brightly, 

In  semblance  of  an  icy  bear  ; 
Ham,  his  loud  wings  flapping  widely, 

Like  a  storm-bird  high  in  air. 

"  Now,  Ellida,  let  us  see 
If  in  truth  thou  bearest 
Valor  in  thine  iron-fastened 
Breast  of  bended  oak. 
Hearken  to  my  calling, 
If  thou  be  heaven's  daughter  : 
Up  !  and  with  thy  keel  of  copper 
Sting  this  magic  whale." 


84  FRITHIOF'S   SAGA. 

Now  heed  Eilida  giveth 
Unto  her  lord's  behest : 

With  a  bound  she  cleave th 
Deep  the  monster's  breast. 

Forth  a  stream  of  blood  hath  bounded, 

Spouting  upwards  to  the  sky, 
Diving  down,  the  brute,  deep-wounded, 

Sinketh,  bellowing,  to  die. 
Together  now  two  darts  are  cast, 

Flung  by  Frithiof 's  arm  so  fierce  ; 
Through  the  ice-bear  one  hath  passed, 

One  the  storm-bird's  breast  doth  pierce. 

"  Well  stricken,  brave  Eilida  ! 
Not  soon  again,  I  wager, 
Shall  Helge's  magic  vessel 
Rise  on  the  gory  wave. 
Heyd  and  Ham  no  longer 
Now  bewitch  the  ocean  ; 
Full  bitter  is  the  biting 
Of  the  purple  steel." 


At  once  the  storm-wind,  leaving 
The  ocean  calm  and  clear, 

Still  wafteth  on  its  heaving 
The  ship  to  islands  near. 


FRITHIOF  AT  SEA.  85 

And,  all  at  once,  the  sun  appearing, 

Like  a  monarch  in  his  hall, 
New  life  and  new  delights  seems  bearing 

To  ship  and  wave,  to  hill  and  vale  ; 
His  silent  radiance  crowneth  high 

The  lofty  cliff,  the  forest's  bound  : 
And  all  rejoicingly  descry 

The  grassy  shores  of  Efjesund. 

"  Pale  Ingeborg's  entreaties 
Have  risen  to  Valhalla, — 
Her  knees  my  lily  bended 
Before  the  golden  shrine. 
The  tears  in  her  eyes  so  lovely, 
The  sighs  of  her  swan-like  bosom, 
Have  touched  the  hearts  of  immortals  : 
Now  let  us  give  them  thanks." 


But  Ellida's  prow 

Hath  stricken  with  such  force, 
That  slow  she  crawleth  now, 

A-weary  of  her  course. 

Weary,  too,  with  dangerous  sailing 
Now  are  Frithiof 's  comrades  bold, 

E'en  the  swords  they  lean  on,  failing 
Feeble  forms  erect  to  hold. 


86  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

On  sturdy  shoulders  Bjorn  doth  ferry 

Four  from  Ellida  to  the  land  ; 
But  mighty  Frithiof  eight  doth  carry 

Down  to  the  fire  upon  the  strand. 

"  Blush  not,  pale  companions, 
Waves  are  sturdy  Vikings, 
And  bitter  'tis  to  battle 
With  the  ocean  maids. 
See,  the  mead-horn  cometh, 
On  feet  of  gold  it  circleth  ; 
Our  limbs  benumbed  we'll  warm  again 
With  skoal  for  Ingeborg." 


XL 
FRITHIOF    WITH    ANGANTYR. 

NOW  also  ye  the  tale  shall  hear 
How,  with  his  vassals  all, 
Drank  joyfully  Yarl  Angantyr, 

In  the  fir- wood  fashioned  hall. 
In  mirth  and  gladness  sitting,  he 

The  blue  waves  looked  upon, 
As  down  the  sun  sank  in  the  sea, 
Like  to  a  golden  swan. 


In  the  deep  bow  of  the  window  wide 

Old  Halvar,  keeping  ward, 
With  one  eye  viewed  the  spreading  tide, 

With  one  his  mead  did  guard. 
A  habit  strange  the  old  man  had — 

He'd  ever  empty  the  cup, 
And  into  the  hall,  with  gesture  sad, 

For  more  would  hold  it  up. 

(87) 


88  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

But  now  he  cries,  as  the  empty  horn 

Into  the  hall  he  throws, 
"A  ship  upon  the  sea  is  borne, 

Full  heavily  she  goes  ; 
Now  seemeth  she  to  tarry, 

Now  reacheth  she  the  land  ; 
Two  mighty  giants  carry 

The  pale  crew  to  the  land." 


O'er  ocean's  wide  dominions 

The  Yarl  now  looketh  he  ; 
"  Those  are  Ellida's  pinions — 

That,  too,  must  Frithiof  be  : 
By  such  a  proud  appearing 

Must  Thorsten's  son  be  known  ; 
In  all  the  North,  such  bearing 

Belongs  to  him  alone." 


Forth  from  the  board,  in  furious  mood, 

Doth  Viking  Atle  rise, 
Black-bearded  Berserk,  craving  blood, 

Rage  flashing  from  his  eyes  : 
Now,  now,"  he  cries,  "  my  hand  shall  show 

If  Frithiof,  as  they  say, 
A  spell  o'er  steel  itself  can  throw, 

And  ne'er  for  quarter  pray." 


FRITHIOF   WITH  ANGANTYR. 

With  him  sprung  up  twelve  comrades  there, 

Twelve  comrades  from  the  board  ; 
They  wield  the  club,  they  cleave  the  air 

With  fiercely-brandished  sword. 
They  rush  down  to  the  level  strand, 

Where  rests  the  ship  at  length, 
And  Frithiof  sitteth  on  the  sand, 

Bespeaking  might  and  strength. 


With  ease  my  sword  should  fell  thee  now," 

Doth  boastful  Atle  cry, 
But  that  the  choice  I  still  allow 

To  combat,  or  to  fly. 
Yet  if  thou'lt  sue  for  peace  from  me 

(Though  cruel  name  I  bear), 
Then,  as  a  friend,  I'll  go  with  thee 

To  noble  Angantyr." 


"  My  journey's  toil  hath  left  me  weak," 

Quoth  Frithiof,  fury-stirred  ; 
"  Yet,  ere  a  craven  peace  I  seek, 
I'll  prove  thy  mighty  sword." 
Flashes  the  steel  with  lightnings,  flung 

From  nervous,  sunburnt  hand  ; 
Each  Rune  on  AngurvadePs  tongue 
In  burning  flame  doth  stand. 


90  FRlTHIOF^a  SAGA. 

The  clashing  weapons,  showering,  strike 

A  hail  of  death-strokes  round  ; 
The  shattered  shields  of  both  alike 

Fall  shivering  to  the  ground. 
Their  comrades  brave  stand  firm  and  fast, 

And  none  his  place  forsakes  ; 
Keen  Angurvadel  bites  at  last, 

The  blade  of  Atle  breaks. 


"  'Gainst  swordless  man,"  bold  Frithiof  cried, 
"  My  sword  I  never  use  ; 
But  let  us  try  another  fight, 

If  other  fight  thou  choose." 
Like  floods,  in  autumn  meeting, 

Each  rusheth  on  his  foe  ; 
Breastplate  on  breastplate  beating, 

As  they  wrestle  for  the  throw. 


They  wrestle,  like  an  angry  pair 

Of  bears  upon  the  snow  ; 
Like  eagles,  struggling  high  in  air, 

Above  the  ocean's  flow. 
Have  tottered  from  their  ancient  place 

Full  many  a  massive  rock, 
And  many  an  oak,  of  sturdy  race, 

At  far  a  slighter  shock. 


FR1TUIOF    WITH  ANGANTYR.  91 

From  heavy  brows  the  sweat  drops  down, 

Their  breath  comes  cold  and  hard  ; 
They  scatter  far  each  shrub  and  stone 

Around  them  on  the  sward. 
To  see  the  end,  in  fear  delays 

Each  troop  upon  the  strand  ; 
Wide  was  that  fight,  in  ancient  days, 

Renown'd  throughout  the  land. 


But  Frithiof  felled  his  foe  at  last, 

And  bore  him  to  the  earth, 
And  knelt  upon  his  heaving  breast, 

And  spoke  in  tones  of  wrath  : 
Oh  !  had  I  but  my  broadsword  true, 

Black-bearded  Berserk,  I 
Should  drive  its  point  triumphant  through 

Your  entrails  as  you  lie." 


"  Be  that  but  little  cause  for  care," 

Was  Atle's  firm  reply  ; 
"  Go,  fetch  thy  mighty  weapon  there, 

And  no  escape  I'll  try  ; 
We  both  must  pass  from  earth  away, 

Valhalla's  joys  to  see  ; 
And  if  I  wander  there  to-day, 
To-morrow  may  fetch  thee." 


92  FRITHIOF' 8  SAGA. 

Now,  noble  Frithiof,  widely  praised, 

The  strife  to  finish  thought, 
Keen  Angurvadel  high  he  raised, 

But  Atle  trembled  not. 
This  touched  his  mighty  victor's  soul, 

And  laid  his  anger  low  ; 
He  checked  the  stroke,  with  glad  control, 

And  raised  his  fallen  foe. 


Then  loud  the  agdd  Halvar  cried, 

His  white  staff  raising  forth  : 
"  Through  this  your  strife  ye  have  supplied 

But  little  cause  for  mirth. 
Long  since  the  silver  dishes  high 

Send  forth  their  steaming  breath, 
And  fish  and  flesh  grow  cold,  whilst  I 

Am  thirsting  unto  death." 


Now  reconciled,  the  warriors  bold 

Pass  through  the  open  door, 
And  much  did  Frithiof  there  behold 

He  ne'er  had  seen  before. 
No  rough-hewn  planks  here  cover 

The  naked  walls  so  wide  ; 
But  leather,  gilded  over, 

With  flowers  and  berries  bright. 


FRITHIOF  WITH  ANGANTYR.  93 

Not  on  the  centre  pavement  glowed 

The  fire,  with  merry  glare, 
But  close  by  every  wall  there  stood 

A  stove  of  marble  fair. 
No  smoke  within  the  chamber  stay'd  ; 

The  walls  no  dampness  bore  ; 
Frames  filled  with  glass  the  windows  had, 

And  a  lock  was  on  the  door. 


All  filled  with  light,  the  branches  fair 

Spread  out  their  silver  boughs  ; 
No  more  the  crackling  pine-torch  glare 

Illumined  the  carouse. 
Cooked  whole,  a  stag,  with  larded  breast, 

Adorned  the  table  round  ; 
Its  horns  leaf-decked,  its  gilt  hoof  raised, 

As  if  about  to  bound. 


There  stood  a  damsel,  lily-fair, 

To  each  rough  comrade  nigh  ; 
As  beameth  forth  a  glittering  star 

Throughout  a  stormy  sky. 
Their  tresses  brown  luxuriant  flowed  ; 

Bright  shone  their  eyes  of  blue  ; 
Their  little  lips  like  roses  glowed, 

Grown  ripe  in  summer's  dew. 


94  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

High  sate  upon  his  silver  throne 

The  Yarl,  in  splendor  bold  ; 
Bright  as  the  sun  his  helmet  shone, 

His  breastplate  blazed  with  gold  ; 
With  stars  embroider'd,  bright  did  gleam 

His  mantle,  rich  and  fine  ; 
And  every  purple-glowing  seam 

Did  spotless  ermine  line. 


Forth  from  the  board  three  paces 

He  goes  to  meet  his  guest ; 
He  takes  his  hand,  and  places 

Him  at  his  side  to  rest : 
"  Since  here  full  many  a  creaming  horn 

With  Thorsten  emptied  we, 
His  son,  whose  fame  so  far  is  borne, 

Shall  not  sit  far  from  me." 


The  great  Angantyr  fills  the  cup 

With  wine  of  Sicily  ; 
Like  flashing  flame  it  sparkles  up 

All  foaming,  like  the  sea. 
"  Right  welcome  be  thou  to  my  hall 

In  ancient  friendship's  name  ; 
The  mighty  Thorsten's  skoal  we  all 

Shall  drink  with  loud  acclaim." 


FRITHIOF    WITH  ANGANTYR.  95 

A  hoary  bard,  from  Morven's  heights, 

Accords  the  tuneful  lyre, 
And  loud,  in  glowing  tones,  recites 

A  hero-song  of  fire  ; 
But  in  the  old  Norrana  tongue,. 

The  speech  of  ancient  days, 
The  hero  Thorsten's  fame  was  sung, 

And  all  the  song  did  praise. 


Then  much  to  hear  the  Yarl  did  crave, 

Of  his  kindred  in  the  North  ; 
And  prudent  Frithiof  clearly  gave 

The  wisest  answers  forth. 
And  everything  he  truly  tells, 

Gives  each  his  proper  fame, 
Like  Saga,  goddess  bright,  who  dwells 

In  the  shrine  of  holy  Time. 


And  now  doth  Frithiof  rehearse 

His  voyage,  lately  done  ; 
How  magic's  power,  and  Helge's  curse, 

By  him  had  been  o'erthrown. 
The  vassals  shout  in  joyous  strain, 

Loud  laughs  bold  Angantyr, 
And  Frithiof  greater  glory  gains 

As  higher  rose  the  cheer. 


96  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

But  when  of  Ingborg,  dear  and  fair, 

The  tale  doth  reach  their  ears, 
So  noble  in  her  grief  and  care, 

So  lovely  in  her  tears, 
Deep  sighs  escape  from  laboring  breast, 

On  fair  cheeks  blushes  stand, 
By  every  maiden  fond  is  pressed 

Her  faithful  lover's  hand. 


And  now,  his  mission  to  complete, 

Doth  Frithiof  bold  prepare  ; 
Angantyr  stirred  not  from  his  seat, 

But  gave  him  hearing  fair. 
Then  answered  :  "  I  no  homage  do  ; 

I  and  my  race  are  free  ; 
King  Bele's  skoal  we  drink,  'tis  true, 

But  he  never  governed  me. 


His  heirs,  indeed,  I  never  knew  ; 

If  tribute  they  demand, 
Then  let  them  sue  as  men  should  do, 

Insisting  sword  in  hand. 
Then  on  the  shore  my  sword  shall  shine  ; 

But  Thorsten  held  I  dear." 
And  with  his  hand  he  gives  a  sign 

To  his  daughter  sitting  near. 


FRITHIOF   WITH  ANGANTYE.  97 

Up  sprung  the  lovely  Flower-charm 

Forth  from  her  gilded  chair  ; 
How  slender  was  her  little  form, 

How  round  her  bust  so  fair  ! 
In  dimple  deep  was  throned  the  sprite 

Astril,  in  roguish  glee, 
As  sits  the  butterfly  so  bright 

In  the  rose  delightingly. 


To  the  women's  chambers  hasting, 

She  soon,  with  purse  of  green, 
Returned,  on  which  were  rivers 

Through  woods,  embroidered  seen. 
And  there  displayed,  the  calm  moonlight 

Seemed  ocean  to  behold  ; 
The  clasp  was  made  of  rubies  bright ; 

The  tassels  were  of  gold. 


The  maiden  laid  the  purse  so  fair 

In  her  great  father's  hands  ; 
Up  to  the  brim  he  filled  it  there 

With  gold  from  foreign  lands  : 
This  gift  of  welcome  take,  O  guest, 

To  do  as  thou  may'st  will  ; 
But  for  the  winter  stay  and  rest 

With  us  in  friendship  still. 
5 


98  FRJTHIOF'S  SAGA. 

"  Though  valor  never  should  be  scorned, 

Yet  now  the  storm  rules  wide  ; 
By  now  again  to  life  returned, 

I'll  wager  Ham  and  Heyd. 
Ellida  may  not  always  leap 

So  luckily  again  ; 
And  whales  are  plenty  in  the  deep, 

Though  one  she  may  have  slain." 


And  so  in  merry  mood  they  stay'd 

Till  morning's  sun  did  rise  ; 
The  oft-drained  golden  goblets  made 

Them  glad,  but  not  unwise. 
With  skoal  to  Angantyr,  at  last, 

The  horn  they  loudly  drain  ; 
So,  safely  housed,  till  winter  passed, 

Did  Frithiof  remain. 


XII. 

FRITHIOF'S    RETURN. 

SPRING  breathes  again  in  ether  blue, 
In  green  the  earth  is  clad  anew  ; 
Then  Frithiof  thanketh  his  host :  again 
He  mounteth  up  on  the  heaving  main  ; 
And  gayly  his  sable  swan  doth  make 
On  her  glassy  course  a  silvery  wake. 
For  the  western  winds,  with  the  voice  of  Spring, 
Like  nightingales  in  his  bright  sails  sing  ; 
And  the  blue-veiled  daughters  of  GEgir  speed 
His  flight  as  they  dance  o'er  the  glittering  mead. 
Oh  !  it  is  sweet  when  from  distant  strand 
The  sails  swell  back  to  that  native  land, 
Where  the  smoke  from  one's  own  loved  hearth  ap 
pears, 

And  thoughts  awaken  of  childhood's  years, — 
Where  play-grounds  are  mirrored  in  tranquil  waves, 
Where  forefathers  lie  in  their  grassy  graves  ; 
And  the  faithful  maiden,  longingly 
Standing  on  lofty  rocks,  watcheth  the  sea. 

(99) 


ioo  FRITHIOF1  S  ZAGA. 

Six  days  he  sailed,  and  the  seventh  shows 
A  dark-brown  stripe,  which  larger  grows, 
And  'gainst  the  edge  of  heaven  doth  stand, 
With  cliffs,  with  isles,  and  at  last  with  land. 
His  home,  from  ocean  risen,  is  seen, 
Its  forests  wide  arrayed  in  green  ; 
He  hears  the  foaming  surge's  shocks 
Break  on  the  marble-breasted  rocks  ; 
He  greets  the  bay  and  the  heights  above, 
And  sails  close  under  the  holy  grove, 
Where  the  past  summer,  so  many  a  night, 
He  had  sat  with  his  Ingborg  in  fond  delight. 
"  Appeareth  she  not,  and  can  she  not  guess 
How  near  o'er  the  dark-blue  waves  I  press  ? 
Or  doth  she,  from  Balder's  temple  gone, 
Now  dwelling  at  Helge's  court  alone, 
Sorrow  by  harp,  or  by  golden  woof?" 


Lo  !  his  falcon  now  from  the  temple  roof 

Arising,  as  often  before  he  hath  done, 

To  Frithiof 's  shoulder  hath  suddenly  flown, 

Eagerly  flapping  with  snowy  wing, — 

The  bird  from  his  shoulder  can  nobody  bring. 

With  gilded  claw  he  scratcheth  in  haste, — 

He  giveth  no  peace,  he  giveth  no  rest  ; 

To  Frithiof 's  ear  he  bendeth  his  beak, 

As  if  some  message  he  sought  to  speak, 


FRITHIOF'S   RETURN.  101 

Perchance  from  Ingborg,  the  bride  so  dear, 
But  the  tale  he  telleth  can  no  man  hear. 


The  last  point  now  doth  Ellida  pass, 

Bounding,  as  deer  bound  over  the  grass, 

The  well-known  waters  her  keel  doth  plough, 

Glad  standeth  Frithiof  in  the  prow. 

He  rubbeth  his  eyes,  and  with  trembling  hand 

He  shadeth  his  brow,  he  scanneth  the  strand  ; 

But  long  though  he  rub  them,  and  far  though  he  see, 

Framnas  no  more  discovereth  he. 

Nought  but  the  naked  chimney  there 

Standeth,  like  warriors'  bones  laid  bare  ; 

Where  his  court-yard  had  been  is  desert  land, 

And  ashes  whirl  round  the  lonely  strand. 

In  fury  down  from  his  ship  he  hasteth  ; 

A  glance  on  his  ruined  dwelling  casteth, — 

His  father's  dwelling — his  childhood's  home. 


Now  Bran,  the  wiry-haired,  doth  come, 

His  dog,  who  often,  as  true  as  bold, 

For  him  the  wild  bears  helped  to  hold  ; 

Full  high  he  leapeth  with  many  a  spring, 

In  joy  his  master  welcoming. 

The  milk-white  steed,  with  the  golden  mane, 

With  stag-swift  hoofs,  and  with  lengthy  rein, 


102  FRITHIOF1 8  SAGA. 

Which  Frithiof  so  often  hath  ridden  around, 

Speeds  through  the  valley  with  eager  bound, 

And,  neighing  gladly,  archeth  his  neck, 

And  bread  from  his  master's  hand  doth  seek. 

But  Frithiof,  poorer  than  the  pair, 

Hath  nought  with  the  faithful  brutes  to  share. 

Houseless  and  sad,  on  his  father's  ground, 

Now  Frithiof  standeth,  gazing  round  ; 

Until  of  Hilding  he  is  'ware, 

His  foster-sire,  with  silvery  hair  : 
"  At  what  I  see  I  scarce  can  wonder  ; 

When  the  eagle  flieth,  the  nest  they  plunder. 

Is  this  the  way  that  a  king  should  guard  ? — 

Well  hokleth  Helge  his  royal  word  ; 

For  heavenly  dread,  and  human  hate, 

And  plundering  flames,  are  his  Eriksgate  : 

Yet  this  brings  rather  rage  than  care  ; 

But  tell  me,  where  is  Ingborg  ? — where  ?" 
"  The  tale  I'll  tell  thee,"  the  old  man  said  ; 
"  Though  I  fear  thou'lt  find  it  but  little  glad  : 

Scarce  wast  thou  gone  when  Ring  drew  near  ; 

Five  shields  to  one  his  warriors  were. 

In  Disar's  vale  by  the  brook  they  fought ; 

With  blood-red  foam  were  its  waters  fraught. 

King  Halfdan,  unchanging,  laughed  and  played, 

Yet  wielded,  like  a  man,  his  blade  ; 

Before  the  youth  I  held  my  shield, 

And  was  proud  of  his  well-fought  maiden  field. 


FRITIIIOF'8   RETURN.  103 

Yet  soon  gave  way  our  weakened  host ; 

King  Helge  fled,  and'then  all  was  lost. 

The  Asen-born,  as  they  swiftly  fled, 

Passing,  in  flames  thy  dwelling  set. 

No  choice  to  the  vanquished,  Ring  would  leave  : 

Their  sister  they  to  him  should  give  ; 

Nought  should  appease  him  save  her  hand  : 

Refused,  he'd  seize  both  their  crown  and  land. 

Backwards  and  forwards  the  messengers  hied  ; 

And  now  King  Ring  hath  led  home  his  bride." 


"  O  woman  !  woman  !  "  Frithiof  said, 
"  The  earliest  thought  that  Loke  had 

Was  to  frame  a  lie,  and  he  sent  it  forth 
.  In  woman's  form  to  man  on  earth. 

With  false  blue  eye,  and  with  faithless  tear, 

Deceiving  ever,  yet  ever  dear  ; 

With  rosy  cheeks,  and  with  bosom  fair, 

Thy  faith  like  spring-ice,  thy  truth  like  air, 

Thine  heart  but  echoing  with  deceit, 

And  treachery  set  in  thy  lips  so  sweet. 

O  Ingborg,  darling  of  my  heart, 

How  dear  thou  hast  been,  and  how  dear  thou  art ! 

Far  as  I  back  my  thoughts  can  guide, 

I've  known  no  joy  but  by  thy  side  ; 

In  every  act  and  in  every  thought, 

Thou  wast  the  highest  prize  I  sought. 


104  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

As  trees  from  earth  together  grown, 

If  Thor  with  lightning  smite  the  one, 

The  other  fades  ;  if  one  grows  green, 

The  other  shares  its  leafy  sheen  : 

So  joy  and  care  we've  shared  and  known : 

I  never  felt  myself  alone. 

Now  I  am  lonely  ; — thou  lofty  Var, 

Who,  with  thy  golden  tablets,  far 

Dost  watch  each  mortal  vow  t'  enrol, 

Cease  thy  vain  labor — burn  thy  scroll ; 

But  lies  to  chronicle  they  serve, 

And  better  fate  doth  gold  deserve. 

Of  Balder's  Nanna  truth  is  told, — 

No  truth  can  heart  of  mortal  hold  ; 

Man's  breast  is  filled  with  falsehood  through, 

Since  Ingborg's  voice  could  prove  untrue  ; 

That  voice,  like  wind  caressing  flowers, 

Or  strain  from  Brage's  harp  that  showers, — 

The  joyous  harp  no  more  I'll  hear, — 

Til  think  no  more  of  my  faithless  fair. 

Where  storm-winds  sport  I'll  make  my  pillow  ; 

Blood  shalt  thou  quaff,  thou  ocean-billow  ! 

Where'er  a  sword  grave-seeds  can  sow, 

O'er  hill  or  dale,  my  joy  shall  grow  ; 

And  meet  I  a  crown'd  king  anywhere, 

I'll  laugh  to  see  how  his  life  I'll  spare. 

But  should  I  find,  where  shields  clash  loud, 

Some  love-sick  youth  amongst  the  crowd, 


FRITIIIOF'8  RETURN.  105 

Who  joy  in  maiden's  vows  can  take, 
I'll  hew  him  down  for  mercy's  sake  ; 
And  spare  him  the  grief  one  day  to  be 
Forsaken,  disgraced,  and  betray'd  like  me." 

"  How  fiercely  boileth  youthful  blood  !  " 
The  aged  Hilding  said  :  "  'Twere  good 
That  snows  of  eld  should. cool  its  heat. — 
Much  wrongest  thou  the  noble  maid  : 
My  foster-daughter  cease  to  chide, 
But  blame  what  none  can  turn  aside, — 
The  rage  of  the  Nornes,  whose  weapons  smite 
The  sons  of  earth  from  the  stormy  height. 
True  !     Ingborg's  sorrowing  few  men  heard. 
Like  silent  Vidar,  she  spake  no  word  : 
But  she  grieved  and  pined,  as  in  southern  shade 
The  love-lorn  turtle-dove  mourns  its  mate. 
With  me  alone  her  grief  she  would  share, 
To  me  her  measureless  woe  declare. 
As  with  stricken  breast  the  sea-mew  diveth 
To  deepest  ocean,  and  only  striveth 
To  hide  her  wound  from  the  sight  of  day, 
And  deep-laid,  bleedeth  her  life  away : 
So  in  silence  deep  sank  her  sorrow  down  ; 
To  me  only  the  grief  that  she  bore  is  known. 

" '  For  Bele's  kingdom,'  full  oft  she  said, 
*  A  sacrifice  must  I  be  made  ; 

5* 


io6  mrrmoF's  SAGA. 

And  garlands  of  snowdrops  and  evergreen 
Shall  deck  the  land's  peace-offering. 
Oh  !  I  could  die,  but  'twere  fate  too  mild  ; 
By  nought  will  Balder  be  reconciled 
Save  a  living  death  of  lingering  pain, 
With  a  beating  heart,  and  a  throbbing  brain. 
But  to  none  of  my  sorrow,  I  charge  thee,  speak ; 
My  fate  may  be  hard,  yet  no  pity  I  seek  ; 
King  Bele's  daughter  her  doom  will  bear — 
Yet  greet  from  his  Ingborg  my  Frithiof  dear.' 

"  On  the  morn  of  the  bridal  (ah  !  sad-fated  day, 
From  my  runestaff,  oh  !    would   I    could   score  it 

away), 

To  the  temple  passed  the  slow-pacing  train 
Of  white-cladclen  maidens,  and  sword-bearing  men. 
By  the  sorrowing  Skald  the  troop  was  led  ; 
The  bride  sate  pale  on  a  coal-black  steed, 
Pale  as  the  spirit  that  sitteth  upon 
The  thunder-rack  dark,  when  the  storm  rageth  on. 
From  the  saddle  I  lifted  the  fair  lily  down  ; 
To  the  temple-threshold  I  led  her  on  ; 
By  the  altar  standing,  she  uttered  there 
Her  vow  to  Lofn,  and  her  voice  was  clear  ; 
And  she  prayed  to  Balder  fervently, 
And  all  wept  tears,  but  no  tear  wept  she. 
Of  thy  ring  which  she  wore  then  was  Helge  'ware, 
And  he  tore  it  with  force  from  her  arm  so  fair  ; 


FRITHIOF'S  RETURN.  107 

And  the  image  of  Balder  he  decked  with  the  gold. 
My  fury  no  longer  could  I  withhold  ; 
My  trusty  sword  from  my  side.  I  drew  forth, 
And  King  Helge's  life  was  then  little  worth. 
But  Ingeborg  whispered  me,  '  Let  things  be  ; 
Such  pang  might  a  brother  have  spared  to  me  ; 
But  much  must  be  borne  ere  life's  sorrows  be  past ; 
Between  us  Allfader  will  judge  at  the  last.'  " 


Quoth  Frithiof:  "Allfader  judgeth,  'tis  true, 

But  a  share  of  judgment  I'll  utter  too  : 

Is  not  to-night  Balder's  midsummer  feast  ? 

I'll  find  in  the  temple  that  crown-wearing  priest, — 

That  fire-raising  king,  who  his  sister  could  sell, 

And  my  share  of  judgment  shall  please  me  well." 


XIII. 
BALDER'S    BALE-FIRE. 

MIDNIGHT  sun  on  the  mountains  lay 
Blood-red  to  the  sight ; 
The  air  was  filled  with  vapor  gray 
Neither  of  day  nor  of  night. 

And  Balder's  pile,  of  the  glowing  sun 

A  symbol  true,  blazed  forth  ; 
But  soon  its  splendor  sinketh  down 

When  Hoder  rules  the  earth. 

And  round  about  the  priests  stood  there, 

All  busied  with  the  brands, — 
Pale-faced  seers,  with  hoary  hair, 

And  flint-stone  knives  in  horny  hands. 

Serving  by  the  altar,  crown'd, 

King  Helge  standeth  near. 
At  midnight,  hark  !  through  the  grove  around 

The  clash  of  arms  they  hear, 
(i  08) 


B ALDER'S  BALE-FIRE.  109 

Bjorn,  the  portals  guard,  and  so 

We'll  captive  take  them  all ; 
In  or  out  let  no  man  go — 

Sooner  cleave  his  skull." 

Pale  the  king  grew  ;  all  too  well 

He  knew  the  voice  for  doubting  : 
In  stalked  Frithiof,  furious,  fell, 

Like  autumn  tempest  shouting  : 

Here's  the  tribute  ;  at  thy  desire 

I've  fetched  it  o'er  the  sea  ; 
Take  it  !  and  battle  by  Balder's  fire 

For  life  and  death  with  me. 

Shields  on  our  backs,  arms  bare  and  free, 
Lest  tame  our  strife  be  reckoned  ; 

Be  the  first  stroke,  as  a  king,  to  thee  ; 
Remember,  I  have  the  second. 

;  Glance  not,  craven,  at  the  door  ; 
In  cover  I've  trapped  the  fox  ; 
Think  upon  Framnas — think,  still  more, 
On  Ingborg's  golden  locks." 

So  valiant  Frithiof  spake  with  scorn, 

And  carelessly  did  fling 
The  purse,  from  off  his  girdle  torn, 

At  the  forehead  of  the  king. 


FRITHIOF'S   SAGA. 

Blood  from  out  his  lips  there  oozed, 

Gloom  took  his  sight  away  ; 
By  his  altar,  stunned  and  bruis'd, 

The  god-descended  lay. 

"  Thine  own  red  gold  canst  thou  not  bear, 

Basest  of  Northmen,  now  ? 
Then,  shame  for  Angurvadel  'twere 
To  fell  such  dross  as  thou. 

"  Avaunt,  ye  priests,  with  your  altar  knives — 

Pale  moonshine  princes  curst, 
Or  little  I'll  reck  to  take  your  lives 
To  quench  my  good  swcrd's  thirst. 

"  O  !  Balder  bright,  forgive  the  harm  ; 

Thine  angry  glances  spare  ; 
Yon  ring  of  gold  upon  thine  arm 
Is  nought  but  stolen  ware. 

"  Never  for  thee,  be  it  boldly  said, 

'Twas  forged  by  the  great  Valunder  : 
'Twas  torn  by  a  thief  from  a  mourning  maid 
Away  with  his  graceless  plunder  !  " 

Boldly  dragged  he,  but  arm  and  ring 
Seemed  to  be  grown  the  same, 

Till,  coming  loose,  the  force  doth  fling 
The  god  into  the  flame. 


B ALDER'S  BALE-FIRE.  in 

Hark  !  it  crackles — the  golden  blaze 

Reacheth  the  roof-tree  fast ; 
Bjorn,  pale  as  death,  at  the  portal  stays, 

Frithiof  stands  aghast. 

Let  all  men  out— cast  wide  the  door  ! 

Thy  watch  no  longer  heed  ! 
The  temple  flames  !     Pour  water— pour 

The  ocean-tide  with  speed  !  " 

Down  from  the  temple  to  the  strand 

They  knit  a  chain  of  hands  ; 
The  billows  flow  on  from  hand  to  hand, 

And  hiss  upon  the  brands. 

Like  the  god  of  rain  doth  Frithiof  stand 

High  over  beams  and  water, 
And  calmly  gives  each  loud  command 

Midst  flaming  death's  disorder. 

In  vain  !  the  flames  gain  the  upper  hand, 
In  smoke-wreaths  rolled  and  swelled  : 

The  gold  drops  into  the  glowing  sand, 
The  plates  of  silver  melt. 

Now  all  is  lost !     From  the  half-burnt  hall 

His  flight  a  red  cock  wingeth, 
And  he  percheth  high  on  the  gable  tall, 

And  there  wing-flapping  clingeth. 


H2  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

The  morning  wind  from  the  north  hath  hied, 
Far  through  the  heavens  blowing  ; 

Balder's  grove  is  summer-dried, 
The  flame  is  greedy  and  growing. 

Fiercely  it  speedeth  from  tree  to  tree, 

A  wide  possession  claiming. 
Ha  !  what  a  fierce,  wild  sight  to  see 

Great  Balder's  mighty  flaming  ! 

Down  in  each  cleft  root  it  crackleth  still, 
High  in  each  summit  gloweth  ; 

'Gainst  Muspel's  ruddy  sons,  what  skill 
Of  man  a  barrier  knoweth  ? 

A  sea  of  flame  fills  Balder's  ground, 
Strandless  its  billows  stream  ; 

The  sun  mounts  up,  but  fiord  and  sound 
Mirror  forth  nought  but  flame. 

In  ashes  lies  the  temple's  pride, 

The  grove  to  ashes  burneth, 
And,  wretched,  Frithiof  turns  aside — 

Through  morning  hours  he  mourneth. 


XIV. 
FRITHIOF    GOETH    INTO    BANISHMENT. 

ON  deck,  by  light 
Of  summer  night 
Sat  Frithiof  grieving  ; 
Like  ocean  heaving, 
His  bosom  sad 
With  awe  and  dread  ; 
Thick  smoke  still  climbing 
From  the  temple's  flaming. 

"  To  ValhalP  fly 
Through  lofty  sky, 
Ye  smoke-wreaths,  seeking 
Balder,  bespeaking 
His  rage,  just  meed 
To  me  decreed  ; 
Dread  tidings  giving 
To  echoing  heaven 

(113) 


114  FRITHIOF'S  SAO  A. 

Of  the  temple  bound 
Razed  to  the  ground  ; 
Of  the  image  famed, 
Which,  falling,  flamed, 
And,  charred  away, 
Like  fire-wood  lay. 
Of  the  grove  telling 
(Religion's  dwelling, 
Where  never  sword 
In  strife  was  heard) 
In  ruins  buried 
By  flames  unwearied. 
All  that  hath  been, 
All  thou  hast  seen, 
No  jot  forgetting. 
Speed  thou  relating, 
Envoy  of  cloud, 
To  the  cloudy  god. 


"  Mild  Helge's  glory 
Shall  live  in  story, 
Not  with  his  hand 
Forth  from  the  land 
Me  doth  he  banish  ; 
I  yield,  I  vanish 
O'er  realms  more  wide 
Of  the  azure  tide. 


FRITHIOF'S   BANISHMENT.  115 

Thou  must  not  tarry, 
Far  must  thou  hurry, 
Ellida  forth 
To  the  ends  of  earth  ; 
Fed  in  thy  roaming 
By  ocean's  foaming, 
My  dragon  good, 
A  drop  of  blood 
Can  harm  thee  never  ; 
Speed  thou  on  ever. 
Where  tempests  roam 
Thou  art  my  home  ; 
The  Asen-brother 
Consumed  the  other. 
Far  must  I  wend 
From  fatherland  ; 
Be  thou  my  North, 
My  foster-earth  ; 
Be  thou  my  pride, 
Thou  dark-robed  bride  ; 
False  was  my  other 
Bride  to  her  lover. 


"  Free-flowing  sea  ! 
No  trouble  to  thee 
Is  monarch's  grieving, 
Or  king's  deceiving. 


n6  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

He  only  can  be 
King  over  thee 
Who  never  feareth, 
Though  lofty  reareth 
Thy  foaming  breast, 
Its  billows  tost. 
Thine  azure  furrows 
Are  tilled  by  heroes  ; 
Through  them,  like  plough, 
The  keel  doth  go. 
'Neath  oak's  wide  shadow 
Blood  dews  the  meadow. 
Sown  is  death's  seed 
From  bright  steel  shed. 
Who  ocean  reapeth, 
Thence  glory  keepeth, — 
Gold  cometh  too  ; 
To  me  be  true, 
Thou  stormy  billow ; 
And  I  will  follow. 


"  My  father's  grave 
Stands  still  and  safe  ; 
Calm  waters  mirror 
His  grass-green  pillow. 
Blue  shall  mine  be 
In  the  foaming  sea  ; 


FRITHIOF'S  BANISHMENT.  117 

Sturdily  floating, 
Midst  tempests  shouting, 
Till  I  sink  to  sleep 
In  the  boundless  deep. 
My  life  art  thou,  ocean — 
My  home,  my  possession  ; 
And  shall  be  my  grave, 
Free-flowing  wave." 


So  spake  he  madly, 
As  piloting  sadly 
His  vessel,  he  bore 
Forth  from  the  shore  ; 
And  coasted  slowly 
The  headlands  holy, 
Which  still  stand  forth, 
Guarding  the  North 
But  vengeance  waketh  : 
With  ten  ships  seeketh 
King  Helge  wight 
To  check  his  flight. 
Then  shouted  they  all, 
"Now  Helge  will  fall : 
He  offereth  strife, 
Nor  careth  for  life 
Here  'neath  the  moon. 
This  Valhall's  son 


n8  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

Doth  long  to  rise 
To  native  skies  ; 
And,  kin  to  the  gods, 
Seeketh  Odin's  abode." 


Scarce  was  this  said, 
When  Helge's  fleet, 
By  unseen  power, 
Sank  lower  and  lower  ; 
Still  sinking  on, 
Till  settled  down 
Midst  Rana's  dead. 
Swimming,  in  dread, 
Doth  Helge  reach 
Alone  the  beach. 


Bjorn,  loud  laughed  he, 
And  quoth  merrily  : 
Thou  of  Odin's  blood, 
My  craft  was  good  ; 
When  none  was  nigh, 
Thy  ships  bored  I 
Last  night  with  speed,- 
A  worthy  deed  ! 
May  Rana  keep 
Them  in  the  deep, 


FRITHIOF'S  BANISHMENT.  119 

As  is  her  wont ; 

I  but  lament 

That  from  the  wave 

Thou  shouldst  be  safe." 


On  rocky  shore, 
His  peril  o'er, 
King  Helge  stood 
In  wrathful  mood  ; 
His  bow,  ere  long, 
Of  steel,  he  strung, 
And  scarcely  knew 
How  far  he  drew, 
Till  with  a  twang 
In  twain  it  sprang. 


But  Frithiof  stayed 
His  lance,  and  said  : 
:  Thy  death-bird  here 
Enchained  I  bear  ; 
O  coward  king, 
If  I  freed  its  wing, 
Low  shouldst  thou  lie 
For  thy  villainy. 
Yet  ease  thy  fears  ; 
My  lance  ne'er  cares 


120  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

For  cowards'  blood  ; 

She's  far  too  good 

For  such  base  uses  ; 

And  rather  chooses 

Her  sign  to  grave 

On  tombs  of  the  brave, 

Than  on  pillars  of  shame, 

Where  is  branded  thy  name. 

Thy  fame  on  sea 

Is  lost  to  thee  ; 

And  e'en  on  earth 

'Tis  little  worth. 

Rust  snapped  thy  bow, 

Not  strength,  I  trow  ; 

At  nobler  game 

Than  thee  I  aim, — 

'Twere  shame  to  me 

To  slaughter  thee." 


Then  bent  he  o'er 
The  sturdy  oak, 
'Once  pine-tree  tall 
In  Gudbrand's  vale. 
He  grasped  its  fellow, 
And  o'er  the  billow 
He  rode  with  speed  ; 
Like  bending  reed, 


FRITHIOF'S  BANISHMENT,  121 

Or  broadsword's  tongue, 
The  stout  oars  sprung. 


Up  rose  the  sun, 

On  the  cliffs  he  shone  ; 

And  the  breeze,  speeding 

From  shore,  seemed  biddin 

Each  wave  to  dance 

In  morning's  glance. 

O'er  the  billow's  crest 

Ellida  pressed 

Merrily  and  glad  ; 

But  Frithiof  said  : 


"  Crest  of  creation, 

Thou  noble  North, 
I  have  no  place  on 

Thy  well-loved  earth  ; 
From  thee  forever 

My  sail  must  swell ; 
Thou  nurse  of  valor, 

Farewell !  farewell ! 

"  Farewell,  thou  brightest 

Valhalla-throne  ; 
Thou  gloom  that  lightest, 
Midsummer  sun  ! 
6 


122  FRITHIOF'S   SAGA. 

Thou  sky,  unclouded, 
Where  heroes  dwell, 

Where  bright  stars  wander, 
Farewell !  farewell ! 


"  Ye  mighty  cliffs, 

Famed  evermore, 
Rune-written  temples 

Of  terrible  Thor : 
Each  azure  sea 

That  I've  known  so  well, 
Each  isle  and  bay, 

Farewell  !  farewell ! 

"  Farewell,  ye  graves 

By  the  ocean's  foam, 
Where  the  linden-tree  waves 

Down  its  snowy  bloom, 
(But  Saga  judgeth, 
And  judgeth  well 
'    What  earth  concealeth,) 
Farewell !  farewell  ! 

"  Farewell,  each  grove, 

And  each  grassy  nook, 
Where  I  loved  to  lie 
By  the  rippling  brook. 


FRITH 1 '01 "S   BANISHMENT.  123 

Friends  of  my  youth, 
I  loved  you  well ; 

But  we  part  forever- 
Farewell  !  farewell ! 


With  fondness  spurned, 

With  honor  stained, 
With  dwelling  burned, 

And  banishment : 
From  land  I  part 

O'er  ocean's  swell — 
Ah  !  joy  of  heart, 

Farewell !  farewell !  " 


XV. 
VIKINGABALK. 

NOW  wide  swept  he  round  on  the  wilderness  deep  ; 
he  sped  far,  like  the  prey-seeking  hawk, 
For  his  comrades  on  board  he  wrote  counsel  and  law  ; 
wilt  thou  hear  now  his  Vikingabalk  ? 

"  Make  no  tent  upon  deck,  sleep  not  under  a  roof, 

within  doors  a  foe  may  surprise  : 
On  his  shield  Viking  sleepeth,  his  sword  in   his 
hand,  and  maketh  his  tent  of  the  skies. 

"  Short  shaft  hath  the  hammer  of  conquering  Thor  ; 

a  sword  but  an  ell  long  hath  Frey  ; 
'Tis  enough,  for  thy  sword  can  be  never  too  short, 
hast  thou  heart  to  thy  foe  to  come  nigh. 

"  When  the  storms  rage  with  might,  hoist  the  sail  to 
its  height,  then  are  merry  the  storm-ridden 
waves  ; 
(124) 


VIKING ABALK.  125 

Speed  along  !  speed  along  !  and  sink  sooner  than 
strike,  for  they  who  would  strike  are  but 
slaves  ! 


"  Shelter  woman  on  land  ;  keep  her  far  from  your 
bark — she'd  deceive,  ay,  though  Freya  she 
were  : 

For  her  dimple  so  deep  is  a  pitfall  untrue,  and  a 
net  is  her  wide-waving  hair. 

"  Wine  is  Valfader's  drink,  and  carouse  is  allowed,  if 

then  drainest  uninjured  the  can  ; 
If  thou  fallest  on  land,  thou  may'st  rise  ;    but  fall 
here,  and  thou  sinkest  to  sleep-giving  Ran. 

""When  a  merchant  sails  by,  spare  his  ship  ;  by  the 

weak  let  a  tribute  for  safety  be  told  ; 
Thou  art  king  on  thy  waves,  he  a  slave  to  his  gain, 
and  thy  steel  is  as  good  as  his  gold. 

"  By  the  die  and  the  lot  all  your  prizes  divide  ;  how 

they  fall,  to  complain  never  care  ; 
Your  sea-king  himself  casteth  never  a  lot,  keepeth 
only  his  fame  as  his  share. 

"  Comes  a  Vikinga-ship,  and  we  board  it  and  fight, 
when  the  strife  waxeth  hot  'neath  each  shield, 


I26  FRITHIOF'S   SAGA. 

If  thou  yield  but  a  pace,  thou  -art  parted  from  us  ; 
'tis  our  law,  and  so  do  as  thou  wilt. 

«  Hast  thou  conquered  ?     Give  grace— he's  no  longer 

a  foe,  who  defenceless  for  mercy  doth  pray  ; 
Pale  Prayer  is  Valhalla's  child  ;  yield  to  its  voice  ; 
he  is  worthless  who  then  sayeth  Nay. 

"  Scars  are  gain  to  a  Viking  ;  a  man  they  adorn,  if 

on  brow  or  on  bosom  they  stand  ; 
Let  them  bleed  on  unbound  until  evening  be  come  ; 
if  not,  thou  must  part  from  our  band." 

So  wrote  he  his  law,  and  his  fame  clay  by  day  to 

far-lying  borders  was  brought ; 
His  like  never  sped  o'er  the  blue  heaving  sea,  and 

his  comrades  full  lustily  fought. 

But  himself  by  the  tiller  sat,  gloomy  of  mien,  and 

gazed  into  ocean,  and  thought : 

"  Deep  art  thou  ;  in  thy  depths,  perhaps,  peace  may 
be  found,  but  above  I  discover  it  not. 

"  If  the  White  One  still  rage,  let  him  draw  forth  his 

blade  ;  I'll  fall  gladly,  if  so  'tis  designed  ; 
But  he  sitteth  in  heaven,  and  sendeth  down  thoughts 
that  darken  forever  my  mind." 


VIKING  A  BA  LK.  1 2  7 

Still,  when  battle  drew  near,  like  an  eagle  refreshed 
rose  his  spirit  in  valorous  flight, 

And  clear  grew  his  brow,  and  high  raised  he  his 
voice,  and  stood  forth  like  the  Thunderer 
bright. 

So  from  conquest  to  conquest  he  sped,  and  from 
care,  in  the  ocean  he  sought  for  release, 

And  islands  and  cliffs  passed  he  southward,  and 
so  came  he  into  the  waters  of  Greece. 

As  his  glance  on  the  groves  rising  up  from  the  sea, 
and  the  temples,  now  desolate,  fell, 

What  he  felt  Freya  knew,  and  the  bard,  too,  must 
know  ;  and  ye,  lovers,  ye  know  it  full  well. 

"  Here  should  we  have  dwelt ;  here  the  isle,  here  the 
grove,  here  the  temple  my  sire  shadowed 
forth  ; 

It  was  hither  I  prayed  my  beloved  to  come  ;  but 
the  cruel  one  stayed  in  the  North. 

"  Doth  contentment  not  dwell  in  yon  valley  of  bliss, 

and  peace  round  those  pillars  so  strong  ? 
Like  the  whispers  of  love  sounds  the  murmuring 
brook,  like  a  bride-hymn   the  nightingale's 
song. 


128  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

"  Where  is  Ingeborg  now  ?  Hath  she  e'er  thought 
of  me,  with  her  age'd  spouse  withered  and 
gray  ? 

I  ne'er  can  forget ;  but  to  see  her  once  more,  my 
whole  life  Pd  give  gladly  away. 

"  Three  years  have  sped  by  since  my  home  I  beheld, 

great  Saga's  majestical  hall ; 

Stand  forth  still  'gainst  the  heaven  her  bright  cliffs 
on  high  ?  groweth  green  still  my  ancestors' 
vale? 

"  On  the  mound,  where  my  father  is  laid,  did  I  plant 

a  linden-tree — bloometh  it  now  ? 
Who   hath   tended   it  since  ?      Give  it  nurture,  O 
Earth,    and    thy   dew   on    it,    Sky,    sprinkle 
thou. 

"  Yet  why  lie  I  longer  on  billows  afar,  for  slaughter 

and  plundering  prize  ? 

I  have  honor  enough,  and  the  red-flaming  gold, 
the  worthless,  my  soul  cloth  despise. 

"  The  flag  on  my  mast  streameth  back  to  the  North  ; 

to  the  North,  to  my  fatherland  dear  ; 
I'll  follow  the  course  of  the  heavenly  winds  ;  back 
again  to  my  Northland  I'll  steer." 


XVI. 
FRITHIOF    AND    BJORN. 

FRITHIOF. 

BJORN,  I  am  weary  of  wave  and  of  sea  ; 
Boisterous  comrades  the  billows  have  proved  ; 
Far  in  the  North  the  proud  headlands  beloved 
Back,  with  resistless  might,  beckon  to  me. 
They  are  happy  from  home  who  have  never  departed, 
Ne'er  banished  afar  from  their  ancestors'  graves  ! 
Too  long,  alas  !  all  too  long  broken-hearted, 
I've  wandered  around  on  the  wide-heaving  waves. 

BJORN. 

Good  is  the  ocean,  in  vain  dost  thou  chide  ; 
Freedom  and  gladness  thrive  best  on  the  seas  ; 
Little  they  reck  of  effeminate  ease 
Loving  afar  on  the  billows  to  ride. 
When  I  grow  old,  upon  land  I  will  house, 
And  cling  in  my  turn  to  it,  close  as  the  grass  ; 
But  now  in  hot  battle  and  joyous  carouse, 

On  ocean,  my  swift  years  untroubled  shall  pass. 
6*  (129) 


130  "FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

FRITHIOF. 

Yet  now  by  the  ice  we  are  driven  to  land, 
Clasping  our  keel  lie  the  chilly  waves  dead  ; 
Nor  care  I  to  wait  till  long  winter  be  sped, 
Imprisoned  by  rocks  on  the  desolate  strand. 
Once  more  in  the  Northland  my  Yule-tide  I'll  hold, 
And  guest  to  King  Ring  and  my  lost  bride  will  be  ; 
Gaze  fondly  again  on  those  bright  locks  of  gold, 
And  hear  once  again  that  voice  dearest  to  me. 

BJORN. 

Good  is  thy  purpose. — By  Ring  shall  be  seen 
How  vengeance  of  Viking  like  lightning  can  gleam  : 
At  midnight  the  court  of  the  monarch  shall  flame  : 
We'll   slaughter   the    Graybeard,  we'll   bear   off  the 

Queen. 

Or  wilt  thou  treat  him  in  Vikinga-wise, 
Hold'st  thou  him  worthy  of  Holm-gang  with  thee  ? 
Then  challenge  him  forth  to  contend  on  the  ice  ; 
Whatever  thou  wiliest,  I  ready  shall  be. 

FRITHIOF. 

Speak  not  of  slaughter,  nor  think  upon  war  ; 
In  peace  to  the  court  of  the  monarch  I'll  wend. 
Faultless  is  he,  nor  did  Ingborg  offend, 
But  the  vengeance  of  angry  gods  I  have  to  bear. 
Now  leave  of  my  dear  one  my  heart  longs  to  take, 
Since  slight  hope  for  me  upon  earth  can  remain  ; 


FRITHIOF  AND  BJORN.  131 

A  farewell  eternal !  when  green  buds  awake 

At  the  breathing  of  spring,  them  shalt  see  me  again. 

BJORX. 

Ah  !  Frithiof,  thy  folly  seems  strange  to  my  mind  : 
What !  sorrow  and  sigh  for  a  false  woman's  love  ! 
In  sooth,  upon  earth  there  are  women  enough  ! 
For  the  one  them  hast  lost  thou  a  thousand  may'st  find. 
If  thou  wilt,  e'en  a  lading  of  that  kind  of  ware 
Shall  swiftly  from  Southland  so  glowing  be  brought, 
As  ruddy  as  rosebuds,  like  lambs  tame  and  fair  ; 
We'll  divide  them  as  brothers,  or  share  them  by  lot. 

FRITHIOF. 

Bjorn,  glad  and  honest  as  Frey  is  thy  thought  : 
Thou  art  prudent  in  counsel,  and  fearless  in  war  ; 
Well  hast  thou  learnt  to  know  Odin  and  Thor, 
But  Freya,  the  heavenly,  knowest  thou  not. 
Shun  to  think  scorn  of  the  holy  Queen's  power  ; 
Beware,  lest  the  rage  of  the  goddess  thou  wake  ; 
To  gods  and  to  men,  soon  or  late,  comes  the  hour 
When   her  mouldering  spark   into  fierce  flame  must 
break. 

BJORX. 

Yet  go  not  alone.     They  may  take  thee  in  thrall. 

FRITHIOF. 

Alone  go  I  not  ;  my  sword  followeth  me. 


132  FJtITfflOF'S  SAGA. 

BJORN. 

Remember  how  Hagbart  was  hung  on  a  tree. 

FRITHIOF. 
He,  who  lets  any  take  him,  deserveth  to  fall. 

BJORN. 

Oh  !  brother,  falPst  tliou,  I'll  avenge  thee  full  well : 
Over  Frithiof  's  bones  the  blood-eagle  I'll  tear. 

FRITHIOF. 

It  needeth  not,  Bjorn.     For  my  foeman  shall  ne'er 
Hear  a  cock  crow  again  when  I  perish.     Farewell ! 


XVII. 
FRITHIOF    COMETH    TO    KING    RING. 

KING  RING  high-throned  at  banquet  sat,  mead- 
quaffing  at  Yule-tide  ; 
The  fair  and  gentle-visaged  queen  sat  silent  by  his 

side  ; 
"Like  Spring  by  Autumn  seated,  they  seemed  together 

there  : 

In  her  was  seen  the   Spring-time  green,  in  him  the 
Autumn  drear. 


And  lo  !  into  the  hall  there  came  an  unknown  gray- 
beard  in, 

From  head  to  foot  enveloped  in  a  wild  bear's  shaggy 
skin  ; 

With  weak  and  weary  gait  upon  his  heavy  staff  he 
leant, 

Still  all  the  rest  surpassing  in  stature  as  he  went. 

(133) 


I34  FRITHIOF'S   SAGA. 

He  sat  him  on  the  lowly  bench  that  stood  beside 
the  door, 

That  is  the  poor  man's  place  to-day,  as  'twas  in 
days  of  yore  ; 

To  mock  with  sneer  and  scornful  laugh  the  under 
lings  began, 

And  pointed  with  the  finger  at  the  rude,  uncouth, 
old  man. 


Forth  flashed  the  ready  fury  from  the  stranger's 

eyes  ;  in  haste, 
With  a  single  hand  he  snatcheth  up  a  courtier  by 

the  waist, 
And   thoughtfully  upon   his   head   he   turned    the 

frightened  youth, 
Then  all  the  others  held  their  peace— as  we'd  have 

done,  in  sooth. 


What  means,   below,  this  uproar— who  dares   our 

peace  to  break  ? 
Come  up  to  me,  thou  graybeard,  and  answer  when 

I  speak : 
What  is  thy  name  ?— what  wilt  thou  ?— and  where 

thy  fatherland  ?" 
So  spake  the  angry  monarch  ;  calm  did  the  old  man 

stand. 


FRirUIOF  COMETH  TO  KING  RING.       135 

Full  much  thou  ar,kest  me,  O  king,  yet  answer  will 

I  give  : 
Trouble  thyself  not  for  my  name,  its  master  still 

doth  live  ; 
The  land  of  sorrow  is  my  home  ;    my  birthright, 

misery  ; 
Last  night  I  lodged  with  hungry  wolves  ;    thence 

come,  to-day,  to  thee. 


'•'  In  days  gone  by  full  glad  I  rode  on  ocean-dragon 

free, 
And  mighty  were  the  wings  she  had,  and  merrily 

sped  she  ; 
But  now  she  lieth  frozen  up  and  lame  upon  the 

sand, 
While   I    myself,  grown  old   and  weak,  burn   salt 

upon  the  strand. 


"  I  came  to  see  thy  wisdom,  by  fame  so  widely 
borne  ; 

Those  yonder  mocked  me  scornfully,  and  I'm  too 
old  for  scorn  ; 

I  seized  upon  a  grinning  fool,  and  turned  him  up 
side  down, 

Yet  all  unharmed  he  rose  again  ;  so,  king,  no 
longer  frown." 


136  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

"  Not  ill-beseeming,"  quoth  the  king,  "  thy  bold 
words  are  to  thee, 

And  age  should  all  men  honor  ;  come,  sit  thee 
down  by  me  ; 

Let's  see  thee  frank  and  freely  ;  let  thy  thick  cover 
ing  fall : 

Disguise  disturbs  enjoyment,  and  I  wish  joy  to 
all." 


Then  straightway  from  his  head  the  guest  let  fall 
the  rugged  hide, 

And  in  the  old  man's  place  they  all  a  noble  youth 
espied  ; 

Down  from  his  lofty  forehead,  o'er  his  broad  shoul 
ders'  might, 

Fell  down,  like  waves  of  molten  gold,  his  locks  in 
splendor  bright. 


In  azure  velvet  mantle  stood  he,  gorgeously  ar 
rayed, 

With  silver  belt,  a  hand  in  width,  and  beasts  there 
on  displayed, 

Fiercely  their  prey  pursuing  around  the  hero's 
waist, 

By  some  laborious  master  in  high-wrought  beauty 
chased. 


FRITHIOF  COMETH  TO  KING  RING.       137 

Around  his  mighty  arm  he  wore  a  golden  bracelet 

wide, 
Like  a  flash  of  bridled  lightning  hung  his  war-sword 

at  his  side  ; 
A  royal,  fearless  glance  around  the  hall  and  guests 

he  bore, 
And  stood,  like  Balder  beauteous,  brave  and  proud 

as  mighty  Thor. 


Swift  to  the  gentle  queen's  pale  cheeks  the  crimson 
color  sped  ; 

So,  'neath  the  glow  of  northern  lights,  wide  plains 
of  snow  blush  red  ; 

And,  as  twin  water-lilies,  by  sudden  storm  op 
pressed, 

Flutter  above  the  billows,  so  heaved  her  gentle 
breast. 


The   horn  was   blown   for  silence,  come  was   the 

votive  hour  ; 
To   Frey's   high   feast   devoted   they  carry  in   the 

boar  ; 
Its   shoulders   decked  with  flowers,  its   mouth  an 

apple  held, 
And,  with  knees  beneath  it  bended,  the  silver  dish 

it  filled. 


138  FRITHIOF'B  SAGA. 

Then   slowly  aged   Ring  raised   up  his  venerable 

head, 
He  touched  the  forehead  of  the  boar,  and  vowing, 

thus  he  said  : 
"  Great  Frithiof   I    will   vanquish,  whom   none   can 

stand  before, 
So  help  me,  Frey  and  Odin,  and  so  help  me,  mighty 

Thor  ! " 


With  haughty  mien  the  stranger  rose  up  quickly 
from  his  seat, 

His  countenance  all  glowing  with  heroic  anger's 
heat ; 

He  struck  his  sworcl  upon  the  board,  the  hall  re 
echoing  rang, 

And  up  from  every  oaken  seat  each  startled  com 
rade  sprang. 


"  Now  hear  thou,  too,  O  king  !"  he  cried,  "my  vow, 

thus  uttered  loud, 
That  Frithiof  is  akin  to  me,  a  worthy  friend  and 

good  ; 
And    Frithiof  I  will   shelter  against  all  the  world 

arrayed, 
So  help  me  first  my  favoring  Nome,  and  then  my 

trusty  blade  !  " 


FRITUIOF  COMETH  TO  KING  RING.       139 

"  Thou  speakest  boldly,"  smiled  the  king,  "  nor  only 

once  to-day  ; 
But  frank  and  free  each  word  shall  be  where  I,  as 

king,  bear  sway. 
Fill,  consort  mine,  the  horn  with  wine,  and  fill  it 

of  the  best ; 
This  stranger,  let  us  hope,  will  bide  the  winter  as 

our  guest." 


Then  took  the  queen  the  horn  that  on  the  board 
before  her  stood, 

(Which  Ure's  forehead  once  adorned,  a  treasure 
rich  and  good,) 

On  feet  of  shining  silver,  with  many  a  gold  ring 
bound, 

Rune-written,  and  with  deeds  of  ancient  days  be 
decked  around. 


And  as  she  offered  him  the  horn,  all  trembling,  with 

averted  head, 
The  goblet  shook,  some  drops  ran  o'er,  and  dyed 

her  fingers  rosy  red  ; 
And  as  upon  the  lily  leaves  the  sunset  glories  seem 

to  stand, 
So  glowed  the  drops  of  purple  wine  upon  the  fair 

one's  snowv  hand. 


i4o  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

With  joy  from  her  the  stranger  took  the  horn,  and 
raised  it  high  ; 

Two  men  (such  men  as  live  to-day)  could  scarce 
have  drunk  it  dry  ; 

But  the  mighty  guest,  deep-quaffing  in  honor  of  the 
queen, 

Drained  the  full  goblet  at  a  draught, — no  drop  re 
mained  within. 


Then  the  bard  who  sat  at  the  board  of  royal  Ring 

his  harp  drew  forth, 
And  a  beautiful  sorrowful  song  did  sing  of  true  love 

in  the  North, — 
Of  Hagbart  and  fair  Signe  :    and  at  the  mournful 

tale, 
The  hard  heart  melted  in  each  breast  beclad   in 

shining  mail. 


He  sang  of  the  halls  of  Valhalla,  the  Einherier's 

praise  sang  he, 
Of  valiant  forebears'   mighty  deeds   on   continent 

and  sea  ; 
Then  every  hand  its  sword-hilt  clutched,  and  bright 

flashed  every  eye, 
And  round  and  round  the  oft-filled  horn  sped  ever 

busily. 


F1UTHIOF  COMETH  TO  KING  RING.       141 

Deep  drank  they,  high  carousing,  at  the  palace  of 

the  king, 
And  reveller  good  each  proved  himself  at  Yule-tide 

banqueting  ; 
Then  staggered  forth  to  slumber,  unmoved  by  woe 

or  care, 
But  Ring,  the  ag£d  monarch,  stayed  with  Ingeborg 

the  fair. 


K 


XVIII. 
THE    RIDE    OVER    THE    ICE. 

ING  RING  to  a  banquet  with  Ingeborg  hies  ; 
The  ice  on  the  bay  like  a  mirror  lies. 


"  Sledge  not  over  the  ice,"  the  stranger  cried  ; 
"  'Twill  break,  and  too  deep  is  the  frozen  tide." 

Quoth  Ring  :  "  Not  so  easily  kings  are  drowned  ; 
Whoever's  afraid,  by  the  shore  may  go  round." 

How  frowneth  the  stranger  in  angry  heat ! 
He  bindeth  his  steel  shoes  in  haste  to  his  feet. 

How  starteth  the  stallion  forth  with  might, 
Fierily  snorting  in  fierce  delight ! 

"  Stride  out,"  Ring  crieth,  "  my  charger  good  ! 
Let's  see  that  thou  art  of  Sleipner's  blood." 

They  speed  as  storms  over  ocean  speed  : 
The  queen's  prayers  little  King  Ring  doth  heed. 
(142) 


THE  RIDE   OVER   THE  ICE.  143 

Their  steel-shod  comrade  standeth  not  still, 
He  flieth  past  them  as  swift  as  he  will. 

Many  a  Rune  on  the  ice  cutteth  he  ; 
Fair  Ingborg's  name  discovereth  she. 

So  on  their  glittering  course  they  go, 
But  Ran,  the  traitress,  lurketh  below. 

A  hole  in  her  silver  roof  she  hath  reft, 
Down  sinketh  the  sleigh  in  the  yawning  cleft. 

How  pale  groweth  Ingeborg's  cheek  with  fear  ! 
The  guest,  like  a  whirlwind,  cometh  near  : 

His  skate  he  hath  fixed  on  the  icy  field  ; 

The  steed  by  the  mane  he  hath  seized  and  held  ; 

With  a  single  tug  he  setteth  amain 
Both  steed  and  sleigh  on  the  ice  again. 

"  Praise  to  that  stroke,"  quoth  Ring,  "  is  due  ; 
Not  Frithiof,  the  mighty,  could  better  do." 

Now  turn  they  back  to  the  court  again  ; 
Till  spring  the  stranger  doth  there  remain. 


XIX. 
FRITHIOF'S    TEMPTATION. 

SPRING-TIME  cometh  ;  wild  birds  twitter,  woods 
grow  leafy,  sunshine  beams, 
Dancing,  singing,  down  to  ocean  speed  the  liberated 

streams  ; 
Out  from  its  bud  the  glowing  rose  peeps  forth  like 

blush  on  Freya's  cheek  ; 

And   joy  of  life,   and  mirth,   and   hope,  within  the 
breast  of  man  awake. 


The  ag£d  monarch  wills  the  chase,  and  with  him  hies 

the  gentle  queen  ; 
And  swarming  round  in  proud  array  is  all  the  court 

assembled  seen  : 
Bows  are  twanging,  quivers  rattle,  eager  horse-hoofs 

paw  the  clay  ; 
And,  with  hooded  eyes,  the  falcons  scream  impatient 

for  their  prey. 
(i44) 


FRITHIOF'8  TEMPTATION.  145 

Lo  !  the  chase's  empress  cometh  !     Hapless  Frithiof, 

glance  away  ! 
Like   a   star  on   spring  cloud  sitteth   she  •  upon  her 

courser  gray, 
Half  like   Freya,   half  like    Rota,  lovelier  than   the 

heavenly  pair  ; 
From  her  slender  hat  of  purple  azure  plumes  float 

high  in  air. 


Gaze  not  on  her  eyes  so  beauteous,  on  her  golden 

locks  so  bright, 
Gaze  not  on  her  form  so  slender,  on  her  bosom  full 

and  white  ; 
Shun  to  watch  the  rose  and   lily  on   her  soft  cheek 

varying ; 
Hark  not  to  the  voice  beloved,  breathing  like  the 

sighs  of  spring. 


Now  the  hunter's  troop  is  ready.     Hallo  !  over  hill 

and  dale 
Horns   reecho  ;    eager  falcons  climb  aloft  to  Odin's 

hall : 
All  the  forest  beasts  affrighted  seek  their  distant  lairs 

in  fear  ; 
But  with  lance  outstretched  before  her,  their  Valkyria 

follows  near. 
7 


146  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

Ring  the  ag£d  cannot  follow  as  the  chase  speeds 

swiftly  on, 
Sorrowful    and     silent    by    him    rideth     Frithiof 

alone, 
Gloomy,  mournful  recollections   all  his  soul  with 

anguish  tear, 
And,  wherever  he  can  turn  him,  hears  he  echoes 

of  despair. 


"  Wherefore  fled  I  from  the  ocean,  to  mine  own  de 
struction  blind  ? 

Sorrow  thrives  not  on  the  billow,  far  'tis  blown  by 
heaven's  wind. 

If  Viking  broodeth,  danger  comes,  and  bids  him  to 
the  sprightly  dance, 

And  his  gloomy  bodings  vanish,  blinded  by  his 
weapon's  glance. 


Far  otherwise  'tis  here  :  for  grief  unspeakable  has 

thrown 
Her  dark  wings  round  my  forehead  ;  like  a  dreamer 

pass  I  on  : 
Never  can  I  Balder's  grove,  or  Ingborg's  loving 

oath  forget, 
Sworn  to  me. — SHE  never  broke  it ;  gods,  in  fury, 

cancelled  it. 


FRITHIOF'S   TEMPTATION.  147 

"  They,  the  race  of  man  detesting,  jealous  view  a 

fondness  blest ; 
My  rose-bud  sweet  they  snatched  away,  and  planted 

it  in  Winter's  breast : 
By  its  bloom  can  Winter  profit  ?     Little  knoweth  he 

its  price  ; 
While  his  frosty  breathing  covers  bud,  and  leaf,  and 

stem  with  ice." 


While  thus  he  sorrowed,  they  their  way  into  a 
lonely  dell  had  made, — 

Dark  and  hill-surrounded,  overspread  with  birch 
and  alder  shade. 

Ring,  dismounting,  quoth  :  "  How  cool  and  pleas 
ant  doth  the  grove  appear  ! 

Weary  am  I  ;  let  us  rest,  and  for  an  hour  I'll  slum 
ber  here." 


"  Here  thou  may'st  not  sleep,  O  king,  for  such  a 

slumber  bringeth  pain  ; 
Up  !     The  ground  is  hard  and  cold — full  soon  I'll 

lead  thee  home  again." 
"  Like  other  gods,"  the  old  man  said,  "  sleep  cometh 

when  we  hope  it  least, 

And  surely  to  his  host  my  guest  will  scarce  be 
grudge  a  little  rest  ?  " 


i43  FRITHIOF' S  SAGA. 

Then  Frithiof  took  his  mantle  off,  and  spread  it  out 

beneath  the  trees, 
And  trustfully  the  old  king  laid  his  head  upon  the 

young  man's  knees, 
Slept   soundly,  as  upon  his  shield  a  warrior  after 

war's  alarms, 
And  softly  as  an  infant  sleeps  within  its  mother's 

loving  arms. 


As  he  slumbers,  hark  !  there  sings  a  coal-black  bird 

from  off  a  bough  : 
"  Haste  thee,  Frithiof,  slay  the  Graybeard— end  thy 

sorrows  at  a  blow  ! 
Take  the  queen— she's  thine,  since  once   to  thee 

betrothal's  kiss  she  gave  : 
Here  no  mortal  eye  beholds  thee  ;  deep  and  silent 

is  the  grave." 


Frithiof  listens,— hark  !    now   sings   a  snow-white 

bird  from  off  a  bough  : 

"  Though  no  mortal  eye  behold  thee,  Odin's  eye  can 
see  thee  now : 

Coward  !  wouldst  thou  murder  sleep  ?     Shall  help 
less  age  by  thee  be  slain  ? 

Such   deed,  whate'er  to  thee   it  bring,  can  never 
peace  or  honor  gain." 


FRFTHIOF'S  TEMPTATION.  149 

So  the  birds  sang,  both  in  turn,  but  Frithiof  took 

his  battle-blade, 
Shuddering    he   flung   it   from   him,    far    into    the 

gloomy  shade  ; 
The  black  bird  back  to  Nastrand  flies  ;  but,  borne 

along  on  shining  wings, 
With  song  as  sweet  as  tuneful  harp,  the  white  one 

up  to  sunshine  springs. 


Straight  the  old  king,  waking,  quoth  :  "  Much  rest 
did  my  short  sleep  afford  ; 

'Tis  sweet  to  slumber  in  the  shade,  protected  by  a 
brave  man's  sword  : 

But  where,  O  stranger,  is  thy  blade — the  lightning's 
brother,  whither  sped  ? 

And  who  hath  separated  you,  so  little  wont  to  sepa 
rate?" 


"  It  matters  little,"  Frithiof  said,  "  for   swords   are 

plenty  in  the  North  ; 
Sharp-tongue'd  is  the  blade,  O  king  ;   no  word  of 

peace  it  speaketh  forth  : 
Within  the  steel  doth  evil  dwell,  a  spirit  dark  from 

Niffelhem  ; 
Against  him  sleep  no  safety  hath  ;  gray  hairs  are 

but  a  snare  to  him." 


150  FRITHIOF1  S  SAGA. 

"  Dissembled  was  my  slumber,  youth,  to  prove  thee," 

agdd  Ring  replied  ; 
"  The  wise  should  never  trust  himself  to  man   or 

sword  of  man  untried. 
Thou  art  Frithiof ;  when  my  hall  thou  entered'st  I 

knew  thee  well : 

Old  Ring  hath  long  been    ware  of  what  his  guest 
sought  to  conceal. 


"  Wherefore,  thus  disguised  and  nameless,  'neath  my 
roof-tree  didst  thou  glide  ? 

Wherefore  ?  Was  it  from  the  old  man's  arms  to 
steal  away  his  bride  ? 

Honor,  Frithiof,  never  sitteth  nameless  at  the  ban 
quet  gay  ; 

Frank  and  open  is  its  visage,  and  its  shield  is 
bright  as  day. 


"  The  dread  alike  of  gods  and  men,  to  me  a  Frithiof 

far  was  famed  ; 
Shields  he  cleft ;  by  him  insulted,  sacred  shrines  in 

ruin  flamed  ; 
Soon  with  fierce  array  he'll  come,  I  ever  thought,  to 

vex  my  land, 
And  he  came, — in  beggar's  raiment,  and  a  staff  was 

in  his  hand. 


FRITHIOF'S    TEMPTATION.  151 

"  Yet,  wherefore  turn  away  thy  gaze  ?  I,  too,  have 
felt  youth's  angry  strife  ; 

It  is  the  time  of  Berserk-rage  in  each  man's  ever- 
struggling  life  : 

In  clash  of  arms  its  course  must  pass,  until  ap 
peased  its  fierce  mood  be  : 

Thy  fault  in  pity  I  forget,  since  I  have  proved  and 
pardoned  thee. 


Thou  seest  I  am  agdd  grown,  and  to  the  grave  must 

soon  decline ; 
Then  take  to  thee  my  realm,  and  take  the  queen, 

for  she  is  thine. 
Meanwhile,  remain,  my  son,  and  dwell  within  my 

palace  as  before  ; 
Guard  me,  thou  swordless   warrior ;    our   ancient 

strife  is  o'er." 


"  Never,"  gloomy  Frithiof  answered,  "  came  I  as  a 

thief  to  thee  ; 
And  had  I  willed  to  take  thy  queen,  could  any  man 

have  hindered  me  ? 
I  only  longed  my  bride  to  see  but  once — alas  !  but 

once  again, 
And,  woe  is  me  !  the  half-quenched  flame  rekindled 

I  to  fiercer  pain. 


152  FRITUIOF'S  SAGA. 

"  Too  long  within  thy  halls  I've  stayed,  and  now  no 
further  linger  I  ; 

Full  heavily  upon  my  head  the  rage  of  angry  gods 
doth  lie  ; 

For  Balder,  with  the  radiant  locks,  who  all  man 
kind  besides  doth  see 

With  love,  detesteth  me  alone,  and  me  alone  reject- 
eth  he. 


"  'Tis  true,  I  caused  his  shrine  to  flame,  and  Varg-i- 
Vcum  call  they  me  ; 

To  hear  my  name  the  children  scream,  and  glad 
ness  from  the  feast  doth  flee  ; 

Its  offspring  lost,  my  Fatherland  with  indignation 
forth  doth  cast, 

And  I  am  peaceless  in  my  home,  and  peaccless  in 
my  mourning  breast. 


No  more,  no  more  for  peace  in  vain  I'll  seek  upon 
the  grassy  earth  ; 

Beneath  my  footsteps  burns  the  soil,  no  shade  to 
me  the  trees  give  forth  ; 

My  Ingeborg  is  lost  to  me,  alas  !  by  age'd  Ring 
she's  owned  ; 

Life's  sun  for  me  is  set,  and  wide  is  sorrow's  dark 
ness  spread  around. 


FRITHIOF'S    TEMPTATION.  153 

"  And,  therefore,  to  my  waves  again.  Away,  away, 
my  dragon  good, 

Thy  sable  breast  plunge  merrily  once  more  into  the 
briny  flood  ; 

Spread  to  the  clouds  thy  pinions  bright,  the  hissing 
ocean  proudly  tear, 

And  fly  as  far  as  stars  can  lead,  as  swift  as  con 
quered  waves  can  bear. 


"  Let  me  hear  the  storm  tremendous,  let  me  hear 
flerce  thunder's  voice  ; 

When  tumultuous  din  surrounds  me,  calmly  can 
my  breast  rejoice. 

In  clang  of  shields  and  hail  of  arrows  be  my  furious 
sea-fights  passed, 

Till  glad  I  fall,  and  rise,  forgiven,  to  the  gods  ap 
peased  at  last." 


7* 


XX. 
THE    DEATH    OF  KING    RING. 

WITH  golden  mane  gleaming, 
Skinfaxe  more  nobly 

Draweth  the  sun  from  the  waves  than  before  ; 
Morning's  bright  beaming 

Illumineth  doubly 
The  hall  of  the  monarch  ;  then  opens  the  door. 

Gloomy  and  grieving 

Frithiof  seeketh 

The  king  ;  pale  he  sitteth  ;  fair  Ingeborg's  breast 
Like  ocean  is  heaving  ; 

The  stranger  he  speaketh 
Words  of  departure,  in  trembling  expressed  : 

"  The  blue  billows  chafe 

My  swift-winge'd  steed, 

My  sea-courser  longeth  to  bound  from  the  strand  ; 
He  doth  pine  for  the  wave, 

So  forth  I  must  speed, 

Forth  from  dear  friends,  and  away  from  the  land. 
(154) 


THE  DEATH  OF  KING  RING.  i$5 

"  This  ring  take— thine  own  again, 

Ingborg  ;  there  liveth 
Holy  remembrance  within  it  for  thee  ; 
Give  it  to  none  again  ; 

Frithiof  forgiveth, 
But  now  never  more  on  earth  seest  thou  me. 


"  Smoke  ne'er  shall  I  see 

Ever  rising  again 

Forth  from  the  North.     Man  is  only  a  slave 
To  what  Nornas  decree  ; 
The  wave-tossing  main 
Henceforth  is  my  fatherland,  shall  be  my  grave. 

"  Thy  bride  to  the  strand, 
O  Ring,  shun  to  take, 

Above  all,  when  the  starlight  illumines  the  sky  ; 
For,  perchance,  on  the  sand, 

By  ocean  cast  back, 
The  course  of  the  wandering  Viking  may  lie." 

Then  quoth  the  king  : 
"  'Tis  bitter  to  hear 

A  man  thus  lament,  like  a  sorrowing  maid  ; 
Full  long  doth  Fate  sing 
Her  dirge  in  my  ear  ; 
What  matters  it  ?     All  that  is  mortal  must  fade. 


156  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

"  Norna's  decreeing, 
However  it  fall, 

Strive  we,  or  grieve  we,  we  cannot  withstand. 
To  thee  leave  I  my  queen, 
And  my  power,  and  all, 
So  thou  guard  for  my  young  heir  his  ancestors'  land. 

"  To  many  friends  spake  I 

Full  oft  in  the  hall, 

And  golden  peace  ever  loved  truly  and  well ; 
Yet  often,  too,  brake  I 
Shields  in  the  vale, 
Shields  on  the  wave,  and  I  never  grew  pale. 

"  Now  will  I  carve  amain 

Geirsodd,  and,  bleeding, 

No  straw-death,  ill-seeming  a  king,  I'll  receive  ; 
Nor  is  the  parting  pain 

Worth  monarch's  heeding  ; 
It  scarce  can  be  harder  to  die  than  to  live." 


So  carveth  he  sprightly 

Letters  for  Odin, 

Into  bosom  and  arm  the  deep  death-runes  are  press'd  ; 
Shining  forth  brightly, 

Thick  blood-drops  flowed  on, 
Trickling:  through  silver  hairs  over  his  breast. 


THE  DEATH  OF  KING  RING.  157 

"  Reach  forth  the  horn  ; 

Loud  skoal  shall  arise 
Skoal  to  thy  glory,  thou  beautiful  North  ! 
Plentiful  corn, 

And  counsellors  wise, 
And  labor  in  peace  for  thee  sought  I  on  earth. 

"  Vainly  and  wildly 

In  conquest  I  sought  her, 
Sought  I  for  peace,  who  still  further  did  flee  ; 
Now  stands  she  mildly, 

The  grave's  gentle  daughter, 
At  the  feet  of  the  gods  she  is  waiting  for  me. 

"  Hail,  ye  deities  bright ! 

Ye  Valhalla  sons  ! 

Earth  fadeth  away  ;  to  the  heavenly  feast 
Glad  trumpets  invite 

Me,  and  blessedness  crowns, 
As  fair,  as  with  gold  helm,  your  hastening  guest." 

So  spake  he,  pressing 

The  hand  of  his  spouse, 
Greeting  his  sorrowing  friend  and  his  son  ; 

And  then,  his  eyes  closing, 

Ring's  spirit  arose, 
And  sped  on  a  sigh  up  to  Allfather's  throne. 


XXI. 
RING'S    DRAPA. 

IN  the  grave  sitteth 
Ring,  greatest  of  monarchs  ; 
Beside  him  his  battle-sword, 
Shield  on  his  arm  ; 
His  charger,  the  noble, 
Neighing  beneath  him, 
With  gilded  hoof  paweth 
The  wall  of  his  grave. 


Richly  now  rideth 

Ring  over  Bifrost ; 

Arched  is  the  bridge 

Which  to  meet  him  descends  ; 

Wide  spring  the  portals 

Of  noble  Valhalla, 

Gods  grasping,  rejoicing, 

The  chief  by  the  hand. 

(158) 


DRAPA.  159 


Thor  is  not  present, 
Far  off  he  warreth  ; 
Valfader  beckons, 
The  beaker  is  brought  ; 
The  crown  of  the  monarch 
With  corn-ears  Frey  decketh  ; 
And  flowers  among  them 
Doth  Frigga  entwine. 


Bragd,  the  aged, 
Sweepeth  the  harp-strings, 
Sweeter  than  ever 
The  tones  of  his  song. 
Vanadis,  listening, 
O'er  the  board  leaneth  ; 
Glowing,  her  snowy 
Bosom  doth  heave. 


"  High  sing  the  clashing 
Of  sword  upon  helmet, 
Murmuring  billows, 
Heaving  in  blood  : 
And  might,  the  good  gift 
Of  the  happy  immortals, 
Which,  keenly  as  Berserk, 
Biteth  the  shield. 


i6c  FRITHIOF'-S   SAGA. 

"  Therefore,  by  us  was 
Ring  well-beloved  : 
His  shield  ever  guarding 
Regions  of  peace. 
Whence  the  loveliest  image 
Of  might  unoffending, 
Before  us,  like  incense, 
Forever  arose. 


"  Words  of  deep  wisdom 
Valfader  speaketh, 
Sitting  by  Saga, 
Soquaback's  maid. 
So  the  words  sounded 
Of  Ring  ever  clearly, 
As  Mimer's  bright  billows,- 
Deep,  too,  as  they. 


Peaceful  Forsete, 
Feud-reconciling, 
Ruleth  by  Urda's 
Aye-heaving  wave. 
So  on  the  Ting-stone 
Sat  the  wise  monarch, 
Appeasing  the  rage  of 
Avengers  of  blood. 


RING'S  DRAPA.  161 

"  Ne'er  was  he  niggardly  : 
Round  him  he  scattered 
(From  Dragon's  bed  gathered) 
The  daylight  of  dwarfs. 
Gifts  sped  forth  gladly 
From  hand  ever  open  ; 
And  comfort  for  grief 
From  his  lips  ever  fell. 


"  Welcome,  thou  \vise  one, 
Heir  of  Valhalla  ! 
Long  in  the  Northland 
Liveth  thy  fame. 
Bragd,  with  greeting, 
Draineth  the  mead-horn 
To  thee,  the  Nome's  herald 
Of  peace  from  the  North  1 " 


XXII. 
THE    KING'S    ELECTION. 

TO  the  Ting  !  the  Ting  !    Budkafle  goes 
From  home  to  home  : 
King  Ring  is  dead.     A  king  to  choose 
The  Northmen  come. 

From  idle  wall  is  ta'en  the  brand 

Of  purple  steel : 
Each  warrior,  with  practised  hand, 

Its  edge  doth  feel. 


•£» 


The  little  sons  behold  with  joy 

Its  glitter  bright : 
Two  raise  it  up,  for  either  boy 

Too  heavy  weight. 

The  daughter  scrubs  the  helmet  clean, 

Bright  must  it  glare  ; 

6*    ' 


THE  KING'S  ELECTION.  163 

Then  blushes  red,  for  she  has  seen 
Her  image  there. 

He  taketh,  last  of  all,  his  shield, — 

A  sun  in  blood. 
Hail  to  thee,  freeborn  warrior,  mailed, 

Thou  yeoman  good  ! 

From  thy  free  breast  alone  can  grow 

A  nation's  pride  ; 
In  war,  thy  country's  rampart  thou  ; 

In  peace,  its  guide. 

Assembled  round,  with  warlike  cry, 

In  proof  arrayed, 
Their  weapons  clash  ;  the  heaven  high 

Their  tent  is  made. 

And  Frithiof  stands  upon  the  judging-stone, 

And  with  him  there 
A  little  child,  the  late  king's  only  son, 

With  golden  hair. 

There  passed  a  murmur  through  the  people  far  : 

"  Too  young  is  he 

To  judge  our  wrongs,  and  of  our  hosts  in  war 
The  chief  to  be." 


[64  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

Up  on  his  shield  set  Frithiof  bold 

The  child,  and  cried  : 

"  Here,  Northmen,  stands  your  king  !     Behold 
The  Northland's  pride  ! 

"  See  how,  with  Odin's  likeness  filled, 

And  fair  as  he  ; 

He  standeth  bold,  on  slippery  shield, 
As  fish  in  sea. 

"  With  sword  and  steel  will  I  defend 

His  realm's  renown, 

And  round  the  child's  young  brow  will  bend 
The  father's  crown. 

"  Forscte,  son  of  Balder  bright, 

Record  my  vow, 

And  lay  me,  ere  its  bond  I  slight, 
In  darkness  low." 

Shield-throned  sat,  with  fearless  eye, 

Ring's  royal  son, 
As  eagles'  young,  from  eyrie  high, 

Gaze  on  the  sun. 

But  Time's  course,  to  the  child's  young  blood, 
Seemed  far  too  slow  ; 


THE  KING'S  ELECTION. 

With  royal  bound,  in  courage  proud, 
He  sprung  below. 

Loud  rose  the  shout  through  all  the  Ting : 

"  We  Northmen  yield  ; 

Rule  us,  as  ruled  thy  father  Ring, 

Son  of  the  Shield  ! 

"  Be  Frithiof  regent  of  thy  house 

Till  grown  art  thou  : 
Yarl  Frithiof,  Ingborg  as  thy  spouse, 
We  give  thee  now/' 

"  A  king's  election,"  Frithiof  cried, 

"  Is  held  to-day, 
But  not  a  bridal :  I  my  bride 
Choose  my  own  way. 

"  To  Balder's  grove  now  I  must  speed, 

For  earnest  speech 

Prepared,  my  Nornes,  full  long  delayed, 
Are  waiting  each. 


Tidings  to  those  shield-maids  by  me 

There  must  be  told, 
Where  they,  around  Time's  lofty  tree. 

Their  dwelling  hold. 


1 66  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

"  Still  Balder,  golden-haired,  doth  frow 

In  anger  sore  ; 

He  took  my  bride,  and  he  alone 
Can  her  restore." 

Then  with  a  kiss  saluted  he 
The  new  king's  brow, 

And  slowly  o'er  the  heath  they  see 
Him  silent  go. 


XXIII. 
.iTHIOF  BESIDE  HIS  FATHER'S  GRAVE. 

a  TT^AIR  shines  the  sun,  and  from  its  rays  of  glory, 
JL        From  bough  to  bough  the  gentle  glitter  leaps ; 
From  heaven  darts  the  glance  of  Odin  hoary, 
In  dew-drops  bright,  as  over  ocean's  deeps  ; 
Like  blood  on  mighty  Balder's  altar  gory, 

In  purple  all  the  mountain-tops  it  steeps. 
But  soon  the  earth  shall  disappear  in  night, 
Soon,  'neath  the  wave,  sink  down  the  shield  of  light. 


"  Yet  first  must  I  behold  each  spot  so  dear, 

Through  which,  a  joyous  child,  so  oft  I  sped  ; 
Round  the  same  spring  the  self-same  flowers  appear, 

In  the  same  wood  the  self-same  birds  are  bred. 
Still  dash  the  waves  upon  the  cliffs  severe  ; 

Oh  !  happy  had  I  never  o'er  them  fled, 
The  same  false  tale  of  glory  ever  telling 
That  lured  me,  restless,  from  my  happy  dwelling. 

(167) 


1 68  miTHIOf"S  SAGA. 

"  I  know  thee  well,  O  stream  ;  thy  ripples  bounded 

Full  often  as  my  swimming  form  they  bore  ; 
Valley,  I  know  thee,  where,  with  shade  surrounded, 

A  lasting  love,  unknown  to  earth,  we  swore  ; 
Ye  birch-trees  bright,  whose  bark  so  oft  I  wounded 
With  deep-graved  runes,  ye  stand  forth  as  before, 
Bearing  on  silvery  stems  the  forest  crown  : 
All  is  unchanged,  except  myself  alone. 


"  Is  all  unchanged  ?     Oh  !  where  is  Framnas'  hall  ? 

Where  Balder's  temple  on  the  sacred  strand  ? 
All  the  dear  beauty  of  my  native  vale, 

Marred  by  the  sword,  disfigured  by  the  brand, 
Of  rage  of  men  and  wrath  of  gods,  sad  tale 

To  wanderers  tells  the  devastated  land. 
Ah  !  pious  wanderer,  hither  shun  to  rove, 
Where  beasts  have  made  their  dens  in  Balder's  grove. 


"  Ay,  a  betrayer  stalks  through  life  untiring, 

The  gloomy  Nidhogg  from  the  gloomy  waste  ; 
He  shuns  the  Asa-light,  the  proud  aspiring, 

Written  on  flashing  sword  and  dauntless  crest. 
He  maketh  us  to  yield  to  his  desiring, 

Dark  fiend,  he  revels  in  rage  unrepressed, 
And  when  a  temple  flames,  delightingly 
Clappeth  his  coal-black  hands  in  furious  glee. 


FRITH  10 F  AT  HIS  FATHER'S  GRA  VE.     169 

"  Hath  no  atonement  place  in  Valhall's  hall  ? 

Can  nought,  bright  Balder,  soothe  thine  angry  mood? 
Men  can  be  pacified  whose  comrades  fall : 
The  lofty  gods  we  reconcile  with  blood  ; 
And  thou  art  called  the  mildest  of  them  all  : 

Speak,  and  I  offer  gladly  all  my  good. 
Thy  temple's  burning  Frithiof  never  willed  ; 
Take  this  disgrace  from  his  once  stainless  shield. 


"  Remove  the  weighty  burden  of  my  woes, 

Drive  from  my  soul  the  ghosts  of  gloomy  thoughts  ; 
Let  life-long  grief  and  sorrow  interpose 

To  wipe  away  the  guilt  a  moment  wrought. 
I  should  not  quail,  though  Thor  were  of  my  foes, 

And  ghastly  Hela  fearless  should  be  sought ; 
But  thee,  great  spirit,  shining  bright  and  clear, — 
Thee,  and  the  vengeance  sent  by  thee,  I  fear. 


"  Here  rests  my  father — if  a  hero  sleeps  ; 

Thither  whence  none  returneth  he  is  gone  ; 
Mead-quaffing  in  the  starry  tent,  he  keeps 
Glad  revel,  joyous  in  his  armor's  tone  ; 
Guest  of  the  gods  !  glance  downwards  thro'  the  deep, 
Thine  offspring  calls  thee,  Thorsten,  Viking's  son  ; 
With  spe'.ls  of  deep  enchantment  come  not  I  ; 

How  shall  I  Balder  please  ?  is  all  my  cry. 
8 


1 70  FRITHIOF*S  SAGA. 

"  Giveth  the  grave  no  answer  ?     For  a  sword, 

Angantyr,  long-departed,  spake  not  he  ? 
Tirfing  was  good,  yet  little  worth  such  word  ; 

I  ask  for  more — no  sword  contenteth  me  ; 
Battle  can  weapons  plentiful  afford. 

Bring  thou,  O  father,  peace  from  heaven  with  thee  ? 
Be  thou  the  pleader  of  my  sorrowing  prayer  ; 
No  noble  heart  can  Balder's  anger  bear. 


u  No  sound,  my  father  ?     Hark  !  the  ocean  sings, 

In  its  sweet  voice — oh  !  speak  a  word  to  me  ; 

The  storm-wind  flies,  hang  thee  upon  its  wings, 

And  whisper  to  me  as  its  swift  gusts  flee  ; 
The  western  sky  hangs  full  of  golden  rings, 

Let  one  of  thy  dear  counsel  herald  be. 
What  !     For  thy  son's  despair  no  sign,  no  breath  ? 
How  poor,  my  father,  is  the  sleep  of  death  ! " 


The  day  sank  down,  with  evening  breezes  singing 

To  man  their  lullaby  so  soft  and  mild  ; 
The  sunset,  rosy-cheeked,  its  glories  flinging 

In  purple  radiance,  girt  the  heavenly  shield  ; 
Round  azure  heights  and  verdant  valleys  clinging, 

Valhalla's  semblance  all  the  circle  filled  : 
When  sudden  o'er  the  western  billows  came 
A  lovely  vision,  weft  of  gold  and  flame. 


FRITHIOF  A  T  HIS  FA  THER  'S  GRA  VE.     171 

O'er  Balder's  bounds  the  gentle  Hagring  hovers, 

(For  so  we  call  it,  though  in  Valhall'  bright 
More  sweetly  named,)  and  floating  downwards,  covers 

Green  hill  and  dale  in  coronet  of  light, 
Spreading  around,  as  far  as  eye  discovers, 

Unfancied  splendor,  wondrous  to  the  sight  ; 
And  as  at  length  it  down  to  earth  descends, 
A  temple,  on  the  temple's  site,  it  stands. 


Vision  of  Breidablick  !     Towards  heaven  rearing 
Their  height,  the  walls  with  silver  seem  to  vie  ; 
The  mighty  pillars  of  dark  steel  appearing  ; 

A  single  jewel  forms  the  altar  high  ; 
Forth  hangs  the  dome,  as  if  by  spirits  bearing, 

Starry  and  beauteous,  like  the  winter  sky, 
And  there,  in  azure  garb  and  golden-crowned, 
The  gods  of  Valhall'  seem  to  sit  enthroned. 


Within  the  portal  stands  each  noble  Nome, 

Together  bearing  Fate's  Rune-written  shield  ; 
Three  roses  gathered  in  a  single  urn, 

Solemn,  but  wondrous  beautiful  and  mild. 
Urd  towards  the  ruined  shrine  doth  silent  turn, 

Skuld  to  the  vision  of  the  new  revealed  ; 
And  scarce  is  wond'ring  Frithiof  conscious  grown, 
From  glad  amaze,  ere  all  again  is  flown. 


1 72  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

"  Oh  !  I  have  comprehended,  maidens  fair  ! 

My  father,  thou  hast  shown  a  sign  of  good 
The  ruined  temple  I  again  shall  rear, 

Superb  upon  the  rock  where  once  it  stood. 
Oh  !  happy  thus,  no  longer  to  despair, 

Of  peaceful  deeds  atoning  insult  rude. 
Again  in  hope  the  outcast  wretch  may  live, 
Since  Balder  bright  doth  pardon  and  forgive. 


"  I  hail  you,  stars,  as  gently  ye  arise  ! 

Your  silent  course  again  with  joy  I  see. 
Hail,  northern  lights,  around  the  arching  skies  ! 
A  temple's  flames  full  oft  ye've  seemed  to  me  ; 
Grow  green,  dear  grave,  again  ;  again  arise 

Forth  from  the  waves,  thou  wondrous  melody  ! 
Here,  slumbering  on  my  shield,  I'll  dream  in  peace, 
Of  man  forgiven,  and  immortal's  grace." 


XXIV. 
RECONCILIATION. 

COMPLETED  now  was  Balder's  temple.    Round 
about 

Stood  not,  as  once,  a  willow-pale  ;  of  iron  wrought, 
With  golden  knob  on  every  rail,  was  set  the  fence 
Of  Balder's  grove,  and  like  a  steel-clad  armament, 
With  halberts  bright  and  golden   helmets,  stood    it 

forth, 

And  sentinelled  the  sanctuary  now  renewed. 
Of  mighty  stones  enormous  was  its  circuit  built, 
With  wondrous  art  together  joined,  a  giant  work, 
For  endless  ages  raised,  like  Upsal's  lofty  shrine, — 
Where  in  an  earthly  form  the  North  Valhalla  sees. 
Proud  stood  it  on  the  lofty  cliff,  and  mirrored  forth 
Its  towering  summit  in  the  ocean's  shining  wave  ; 
And  far  around  it,  like  a  splendid  belt  of  bloom, 
Spread  Balder's  valley  fair,  with  all  its  rustling  groves, 
With  all  its  songs  of  joyous  birds,  a  home  of  peace  : 
High  stood  its  copper-bolted  portals,  and  within 
Two  pillars  tall  upon  their  mighty  shoulder-blades 

(173) 


174  FRIT  HI  OF' S  SAO  A. 

Upheld  the  lofty  dome,  which  hung.forth  beautiful 
Above  the  temple,  like  a  giant  shield  of  gold. 
Farther  within,  great  Balder's  altar  stood,  outhewn 
From  one  huge  block  of  Northern  marble,  and  around 
A  sculptured  serpent  cast  its  coils,  deep-graved  with 

Runes 

In  wisest  words  from  Vala  and  from  Havamal. 
But  in  the  wall  above  a  space  was  found  adorned 
With  stars  of  gold  upon  a  ground  of  blue  ;  and  there 
The  god  of  Goodness'  silver  image  was,  as  fair 
As  silver  moonshine  throned  upon  the  azure  sky, 
So    seemed    the    temple. — Now    in    pairs   there    en 
tered  in 

Twelve  temple-maidens  fair,  in  silver  raiment  clad, 
With  roses  blooming  on  their  cheeks,  and  roses,  too, 
Within  their  guileless  hearts  :  before  the  image  dread 
They  danced  around  the  altar  newly  consecrate, 
As  spring-time's  breezes  dance  above  the  rivulets, 
As  forest  elves  dance  lightly  o'er  the  tall-grown  grass, 
While  still  the  morning  dew  lies  glittering  around. 
And  'midst  their  dancing  sang  they,  too,  an  holy  song, 
Of  Balder,  the  all-pious  ;  how  beloved  was  he 
Of  all  creation  :  how  by  Hoder's  dart  he  fell ; 
How   earth,   and    sea,    and   sky  lamented  ; — such   a 

song 

It  seemed  as  ne'er  from  out  a  mortal  bosom  sprung, 
But  like  a  tone  from  Breidablick,  the   Bright  One's 
hall  ; 


RECONCILIATION.  1 75 

Like   dream   of  loved    one    which   a    lovely   maiden 

dreams, 
When   in   the   peace   of  silent  night  deep  pipes  the 

quail, 
And  moonlight  beameth  o'er  the  birch-woods  of  the 

North.— 

Delighted  Frithiof,  leaning  on  his  sword,  beheld 
The  dance  ;   and  many  a  scene  of  childhood's  glad 
ness  sped 

Before  his  sense,  a  merry  race  and  innocent. 
With  eyes  of  heavenly  blue,  and  lovely  heads,  adorned 
With  curling  locks  of  floating  gold,  they  nodded  forth 
A  loving  greeting  to  the  comrade  of  their  youth. 
Then  like  a  bloody  shadow  sank  his  Viking's  life, 
With  all  its  battles  fierce,  its  past  adventures  wild, 
Down  into  darkness,  and  unto  himself  he  seemed 
To  stand,  a  flower-decked  Bauta-stone,  upon  its  grave. 
And  ever  as  the  song  swelled  high,  his  spirit  rose 
From  lowly  vales  of  earth  on  high  to  Valaskjalf ; 
And  earthly  rage  and  earthly  hate  were  melted  down, 
As  Winter's  icy  mail  from  breast  of  Earth  dissolves, 
When  shines  the   sun  of  spring  ;    a  flood  of  gentle 

peace, 

Of  glad  delight,  his  noble  bosom  overflowed. 
It  seemed  as  if  the  heart  of  Nature  he  could  feel 
To  throb  with  his  ;  as  if  with  gladness  he  could  clasp 
The   whole    Heimskringla   in  his    loving   arms,  and 
make 


1 76  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

In  sight  of  heaven  a  holy  truce  with  earth. 
Then  entered  Balder's  sacrificing  priest  the  shrine, 
Not  young  and  fair  as  Balder,  but  a  towering  form, 
With  heavenly  mildness  in  his  noble  countenance, 
And  downward  to  his  belt  his  beard  of  silver  flowed. 
Then  new-felt   reverence  filled   Frithiof's  haughty 

soul ; 

And  lowly  bent  the  eagle-wings  upon  his  helm 
Before  the  sage,  who  thus  in  words  of  friendship 

spake : 


"  Son  Frithiof,  welcome  hither  :   I  have  watched  for 

thee  : 
For  youthful  vigor  wanders  glad  round  earth  and 

sea, 

Like  Berserk  pale,  who  biteth  furiously  the  shield, 
But  wearily  and  thoughtful  wanders  home  at  last. 
Full  oft  enough  to  Jotunheim  sped  mighty  Thor  ; 
Yet  spite  of  magic  belt,  and  spite  of  gloves  of  steel, 
Utgarda-Loke  sitteth  ever  on  his  throne  ; 
To  no  might  Evil,  mighty  in  itself,  will  yield. 
And  profitless  is  piety  unmatched  with  power, — 
'Tis  like  the  sunbeam  playing  over  yEgir's  breast, — 
A  changing  glow  that  sinks  and  swells  with  every 

wave 

Without  a  settled  depth,  unstable,  insecure. 
But  power  wanting  piety  devours  itself, 


RECON  CILIA  TION.  1 7  7 

Like  buried  battle-blade  ;  it  is  life's  wild  carouse, 
Where   o'er   the   beaker's   brim   oblivious   Haeger 

soars, 
And  when  the  drinker  wakes,  he  blushes   for  his 

deed. 

All  vigor  is  of  earth,  from  corpse  of  Ymer  sprung  ; 
Forth  from  its  veins  the  stormy  waste  of  waters 

flows, 

And  all  its  sinews  are  of  brazen  metal  forged. 
But  void,  and  desolate,  and  fruitless,  it  must  lie, 
Till  Piety,  like  heavenly  sunlight,  shines  thereon. 
Then   grass    grows    green,    and    spreads   a  carpet 

flower-weft  ; 
Then  lift  the  trees  their  crowns,  then  gleams  the 

golden  fruit, 
And  man  and  beast  draw  life  from  mother  Nature's 

breast ; 

So  is  it,  too,  with  Asker's  offspring.     Odin  hath 
Two  weights  within  the  balance  of  each  mortal  life, 
Each  counterpoising  each  when  fairly  stands   the 

scale, 
And   they  are   named,  the   Love  of  Heaven,    the 

Might  of  Earth. 
Full  strong  is  Thor,  O  youth,  when  close  lie  clasps 

around 

His  mighty  loins  the  magic  belt,  and  strikes  amain  ; 
And  wise  is  Odin,  when  on  Urda's  silver  wave 
He  gazeth  down,  and  round  about  his  ravens  fly, 


178  FRITHIOF'S  SAO  A. 

And  bring  him  tidings  up  from  earth  to  lofty  heaven  ; 
Yet  pale  grew  both,  and  half  was  quenched  the  gleam 

that  decked 

Their  royal  crowns,  when  Balder,  pious  Balder,  fell ; 
The  clasping  link  was  he  in  ValhalPs  wreath  of  gods. 
Then  yellow  grew  the  splendor  of  the  tree  of  Time  ; 
And  Nidhogg  gnawed  upon  its  root ;  then  loose  were 

set 
The  powers  of  ag£d   Night ;    the   Midgard  serpent 

raised 

To  heaven  its  coils  envenomed,  and  Fenris  howled  ; 
From   Muspelheim   the   sword   of  Surtur   lightened 

forth. 
Since   then,  where'er   the   eye   can   turn,    the   battle 

fierce 

Throughout  creation  rageth  on  ;  in  Valhall  crows 
The   cock  gold-crested,  and   the   red   one  crows  to 

war, 
On  earth  and  deep  beneath  the  earth.     Yet  erst  was 

peace, 

Not  only  in  the  hall  of  gods,  but  here  on  earth  : 
In  breast  of  men,  as  well  as  breast  of  lofty  gods. 
For  whatsoever  happens  here  hath  happened,  too, 
More  wondrously  above  ;  and  so  the  life  of  men 
Is  but  an  image  slight  of  Valhall ;  heaven's  light 
Reflected  down  on  Saga's  rune-engraven  shield  ; 
And  every  heart  of  man  its  Balder  hath,      Thou'st 

known  a  time 


RECONCILIATION.  179 

When  peace  within  thy  bosom  dwelt,  and  gladsome 

sped 
Thy  life,  in  heavenly  calm,  like  dream  of  sweet-voiced 

bird, 

When  winds  of  summer  night  rock  gently  to  and  fro 
His  greenwood  nest,  and  bend  the  heads  of  slumber 
ing  flowers, 

Then  Balder  still  was  dwelling  in  thy  stainless  soul, 
Thou   Asen-born,    thou   wandering    type   of   Valhall 

pure  ! 

For  children  still  doth  Balder  live,  ana  Hela  yields 
Her  booty  back  as  oft  as  child  of  man  is  born. 
But  in  each  heart  of  man,  with  Balder,  groweth  up 
His  brother,  Hoder,  blind,  the  child  of  Night ;  for  111, 
Like   young  of  bears,  is   sightless   born,  and   dark 
ness  is 

His  covering,  while  Balder  clothes  himself  in  light. 
But  ever-busy  Loke  tempts  unceasingly, 
Misleads  the  blind  one's  murderous  hand,  and  guides 

the  spear 

Against  the  heart  of  Balder,  ValhalPs  best  beloved. 
Then  Hate  awakeneth  ;  for  prey  Might  springeth  up  ; 
Like  hungry  wolf,  o'er  hill  and  dale,  the  greedy  sword 
Doth    prowl,   and    dragons   swim   upon    the   bloody 

waves  ; 

And  shadow-like,  of  power  bereft,  doth  Piety 
By  Pallid  Hela  sit,  as  dead,  amongst  the  dead  ; 
And  low  in  ashes  Balder's  holy  temple  lies  ; 


i8o  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

And  thus  the  life  of  gods  above  foreshadoweth 
The  life  of  men  below,  and  both  together  are 
Allfather's   silent   thoughts,   which   never  know  a 

change. 
What  hath  been,  what  shall  be,  doth  Vala's  deep 

song  tell, — 

A  song  at  once  the  lullaby,  the  dirge  of  Time. 
Therewith  in  unison,  Heimskringla's  tale  is  told, 
And  thence  may  each  man  hear  his  own  heart's  his 
tory  ; 

And  Vala  asks  of  thee  :    '  Canst  understand  thine 
own  ? ' 


"Atonement   seekest  thou. — Oh  !   know'st   thou 

what  it  is  ? 
Gaze  in  mine  eyes — oh  !    Frithiof,  gaze,  and  turn 

not  pale  ; 
Atonement  bears   on  earth   no   other  name   than 

Death  ; 

All  time  is  but  a  measure  of  eternity  ; 
All  life, — an  emanation  from  Allfather's  throne  ; 
Atonement, — thither  purified  to  hie  thee  home. 
The  lofty  gods  themselves  are  fallen.     Ragnarok 
Is  their  atoning  day  appointed  ;  day  of  blood 
On  Vigrid's  hundred  leagues  of  plain  ;    there  must 

they  fall, 
But  never  unavenged  ;  since  Evil  then  must  die 


RECONCILIATION.  181 

Eternally,  and  fallen  Good  arise  on  high, 
From  flames  of  earth  to  loftier  being  purified. 
'Tis  true,  the  rayless  wreaths  of  pale-grown  stars 
Shall  fall   from   heaven   above,  and   Earth   in  ocean 

sink  ; 

But,  joyously,  another  new-born  Earth  shall  raise, 
From  ocean  forth,  its  fairer,  flow'r-adorne'd  head  ; 
And  wandering  stars  renewed,  with  sweet,  benignant 

beam, 

Above  the  new  creation  take  their  silent  course. 
Once  more  shall  Balder,  then,  upon  the  grassy  hills, 
Rule  god's  regenerate  and  purified  mankind. 
The  Rune-writ  golden  tablets,  lost  so  long  ago 
In  early  dawn  of  time,  shall  then  again  be  found 
On  Ida's  plains,  by  Valhall's  reconciled  race. 
Thus,  death  is  but  an  ordeal  for  fallen  good, 
And  its  atonement,  birth  into  a  better  life  ; 
So,  purified,  it  fiieth  thither,  whence  it  came, 
Rejoicing  guileless,  as  a  child  on  parent's  knees. 
Alas  !  that  all  that  noblest  is  must  lie  beyond 
The  grave — the  grassy  gate  of  heaven  ;  and  all  that 

dwells 

Beneath  the  stars  be  base,  by  evil  maculate. 

Yet   some    atonement    still   may    here   on    earth    be 

found, 

A  partial,  gentle  prelude  to  the  perfect  one  ; 
Like  hand  of  minstrel  straying  o'er  his  harp,  before, 
With  skilful  fingers,  he  awake  the  voice  of  song  ; 


1 82  FRITH lOF'S  SAGA. 

By  gentle  proof  he  tries  the  tuned  accord,  and  then 
His  bold  hand  striketh  mightily  the  golden  strings, 
From  out  the  grave  invoking  memories  of  yore, 
And  Valhall's   brightness   flasheth   from  his   trance'd 

eyes. 
So  earth  the   shadow  seems  of  heaven  above  ;    and 

like 

The  entrance  court  to  Balder's  temple  in  the  skies  ; 
And  sacrifice  to  gods  is  made  ;  by  purple  rein 
The  steed  is  led  in  golden  trappings  to  their  shrines. 
Therein  a  figure,  deep  of  meaning,  lies  ;  for  blood 
Must  be  the  morning-dawn  of  all  atonement-days. 
But  neither  type  nor  figure  can  themselves  atone  ; 
Thy  deeds  of  evil   done   can   none   make   good   for 

thee. 

Atonement  for  the  dead  is  in  Allfather's  breast ; 
Atonement  for  the  living  in  each  living  heart. 
One  sacrifice  I  know,  in  heaven  above  more  dear 
Than  smoke  of  slaughtered  oxen  :  'tis  to  offer  up 
Thine  own  heart's  angry  rage,  thine  own  revenge. 
Canst   thou  not  blunt  the  edge  of  passion,  and  for 
give  ? 
Then,  Frithiof,  nought  hast  thou  to  do  in   Balder's 

house : 
And  vain  must  be  the  temple  which  thou  here  hast 

reared. 
With   stones   thou   canst  not  please  the  god  ;    with 

peace  alone, 


RECON  CILIA  TION.  1 83 

On    earth    below,    and    heaven    above,    forgiveness 

dwells. 

Be  reconciled  to  thy  foe  and  to  thyself, 
And  so  shalt  thou  be  reconciled  to  Balder  bright. 
'Tis    said   a   Balder   southward   dwelt,    the   Virgin's 

son  ; 

Allfather  sent  him  forth  to  make  the  purport  known 
Of  writings  dark  till  now  upon  the  shield  of  Fate. 
His   rallying-cry  was    Peace,  and   Love   his   shining 

sword, 

And  Innocence  sat,  dove-like,  on  his  silver  helm. 
He  lived  the  holy  life  he  taught ;  forgiving,  died  ; 
And,  far  away,  'neath  spreading  palms,  his  grave  is 

made. 
They  say,  his   teaching   spreadeth   on   from   vale   to 

vale, 
And  melteth  hardened   hearts,  and  layeth   hand  in 

hand, 

Erecting  strifeless  empires  on  the  peaceful  earth. 
I  know  not  well  the  lore  he  taught,  and  yet,  me- 

thinks, 
At  times,  in  better  hours,  its  thoughts  have  come  to 

me  ; 
At  times  such  thoughts  fill  all  men's  hearts  as  well  as 

mine. 
The   day  will   come,  I   know,  when  he   shall  gently 

wave 
His  snowy,  dove-like  pinions  o'er  the  northern  hills. 


1 84  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

But,  ere    that   day,    the    North   shall  pass    from   us 

away, 

And  oak-trees  murmur  over  our  forgotten  graves. 
Oh  !  generations  blessed,  privileged  to  quaff 
The  beaming  cup  of  new-born  light,  I  bid  ye  hail. 
Rejoice  !    rejoice !    when   it   shall   drive   each  cloud 

away, 

That  hung  its  misty  veil  before  the  sun  of  life  ; 
Yet   shun  to   scorn   our   race,  which,  ever  constant, 

sought 

With  unaverted  gaze  its  heavenly  beams  to  view  : 
Allfather,  though  but  one,  hath  many  messengers. 


"  Thou  hatest  Bele's  sons.     And  wherefore  hatest 

thou  ? 

Because  with  thee,  a  yeoman's  son,  they  did  not  will 
To  match  their  sister,  who  is  sprung  from  Seming's 

blood, 

The  son  of  Odin,  and  because  their  pedigree 
Ascendeth   up   to   Valhall's    throne  ;    and    they   are 

proud. 

But  thou  wilt  answer :  '  Birth  is  chance,  and  not  de 
sert.' 

No  man,  believe  me,  youth,  of  his  deserts  is  proud  ; 
'Tis  but  his  better  fortune  ;  and  the  best  of  all 
Is,  after  all,  a  gift  of  Heaven.     Art  thou  not  proud 
Of  all  thy  valiant  deeds,  of  all  thy  matchless  might  ? 


RE  CONCILIA  TION.  1 85 

And  was  that  might  conferred  by  thee  ?     Did  Thor 

not  knit 

The  sinews  of  thine  arm  as  firm  as  branching  oak  ? 
Is  thine  high  heart  no  gift  of  God's,  that  boimdeth 

glad 

Within  that  citadel,  thine  arching  breast  ?     And  is 
That  lightning  not  of  heaven  that  flasheth  in  thine 

eyes  ? 

The  lofty  Nornes  already  by  thy  cradle  sang 
Of  glorious  life  to  come  ;  therein  thy  merit  is 
No  greater  than  a  king's  son's  for  his  royal  birth. 
Condemn  not  others'  pride,  lest  thine,  too,  be  con 
demned. 
For  now  is  Helge  fallen."     "  How  !  "  cried  Frithiof 

loud, 
"  JKing  Helge  fallen  !     Where,  and  when  ? "      "  Thou 

knowest  well 
That  while  thy  temple  thou  wast  building,  he  was 

gone 

To  war  in  Finnish  highlands.     On  a  lonely  cliff 
An  ancient  shrine  he  found,  of  Jumala  the  seat, 
For  many  a  year  gone  by  closed  up  and  desolate  ; 
But  still  an  agdd,  wondrous  image  of  the  god 
Above  the  gate  remained,  and  nodded  to  its  fall ; 
But  no  man  dared  to  venture  near,  for  it  was  said 
Amongst  the  Finns,  from  sire  to  son,  whoever  first 
Within  that  temple  trod  should  Jumala  behold. 
This  Helge  heard,  and  blindly  scaled,  in  bitter  rage, 


1 86  FRITHIOF1 8  SAGA. 

The  lonely  steps  that  led  to  the  detested  god, 
Desiring  to  destroy  the  shrine.    He  reached  the  top  ; 
The  key  was  rusted,  fast  within  the  portal  locked. 
He  laid  his  hands  upon  the  post ;  in  rage  he  shook 
The  rotten  portals  ;  all  at  once,  with  frightful  crash, 
The  idol's  image  fell,  and  crushed  beneath  its  weight 
The  heaven-born  Helge. — Thus  he  Jumala  beheld. 
A  messenger  this  night  hath  brought  the  tidings 

home  ; 

Alone  now  sitteth  Halfdan  on  King  Bele's  throne. 
Give  him  thine  hand  ;  to  heaven  thine  anger  sacri 
fice  ; 

This  off'ring  Balder  doth  demand,  and  I,  his  priest, 
As  proof  that  now  thou  mockcst  not  the  peaceful 

god. 

If  thou  refuse,  in  vain  this  temple  hast  thou  reared, 
And  vainly  have  I  spoken." 

Halfdan  entered  now 
Across   the   copper  threshold,  and,   with   doubtful 

glance, 
He  stood  aloof  from  Frithiof  feared,  and  held  his 

peace. 
Then  Frithiof  snatched  the  breastplate-hater  from 

his  side, 

Against  the  altar  set  his  golden-orbe'd  shield, 
And  all  unarmed,  advancing,  stood  before  his  foe. 
a  In  such  a  strife  as  this,"  he  spake  in  kindly  voice, 


REQONCILIA  T10N.  1 87 

"  He  noblest  is  who  offers  first  a  friendly  hand." 
King  Halfdan  blushed,  and  off  his  glove  of  steel  he 

drew  : 

Those  hands  so  long  apart  were  joined  again 
In  vig'rous  clasp,  as  firm  as  rock's  deep  base. 
The  graybeard  then  the  heavy  ban  revoked  that  lay 
Upon  the  Varg-i-Veum,  excommunicate. 
And  sudden,  while  the  words  he  spake,  came  Ing- 

borg  in, 

In  bridal  garb, — in  ermine  mantle, — maidens  fair 
Behind  her  following,  as  heavenly  stars  the  Moon. 
With  tears  within  her  beauteous  eyes  she  fell  upon 
Her  brother  Halfdan's  breast :  but,  deeply  moved, 

he  laid 

His  sister,  well  beloved,  on  Frithiof 's  faithful  heart. 
And  Ingborg,  over  Balder's  altar,  gave  her  hand 
To  him,  her  childhood's  friend,  her  heart's  delight. 


NOTES  TO  THE  AMERICAN  EDITION. 


PAGE  i. — "  FRITHIOF  AND  INGEBORG."  In  this  Canto, 
the  last  couplet  of  each  stanza,  in  the  original,  has  invaria 
bly  feminine  rhymes. 

Page  3,  line  16. — A  more  literal  translation  of  this 
stanza  seems  preferable  : 

But  childhood's  days  full  fleetly  glide  : 
There  stands  a  stripling  in  his  pride, 
With  haughty  eye  that  hopeth,  pleadeth, — 
There  stands  a  maid  whose  bosom  buddeth  ! 

Page  19,  line  6. — "  Ham  sjelf  en  lefvande  saga'11 — him 
self  a  living  tradition. 

Page  31. — "  FRITHIOF'S  WOOING."  Here,  again,  in  the 
original,  the  rhymes  of  the  last  couplet  are  feminine. 

Page  45. — "FRITHIOF'S  JOY."  "  Frithiof's  Bliss"  is  a 
more  correct  translation. 

Page  124. — "  VIKINGABALK."     The  Viking-Code. 

(189) 


190  FRITHIOF'8   SAGA. 

Page  158. — "  RING'S  DRAPA."  The  effect  of  the  Saga- 
measure  depends  on  its  alliteration.  This  necessary  feature 
Mr.  Blackley  has  neglected  in  his  translation.  As  a  speci 
men  of  its  character,  I  give  the  first  stanza  : 

Sits  in  the  sepulchre, 
Son  of  the  heroes, 
Battle-blade  by  him. 
Buckler  on  arm  : 
Neigheth  his  stallion 
Standing  within  it, 
Stamping  with  gold-hoof 
The  gate  of  the  grave. 


ALPHABETICAL  GLOSSARY  AND  NOTES 

EXPLANATORY  OF  NAMES  AND  TERMS  OCCURRING 
IN    THE   FRITHIOF-SAGA.* 


AEGIR.     The  ocean-god.     Daughters  of  Aegir,  the  waves. 

AESIR.  The  twelve  highest  gods,  namely,  Odin,  Thor, 
Njord,  Frey,  Tyr,  Heimdall,  Bragi,  Vidar,  Vali,  Ullur, 
Haenur,  and  Forsete,  with  their  progeny. 

ALFADER  (All-Father).     The  highest  title  of  Odin. 

ANGURVADEL  (Flood  of  anguish).  The  name  of  Frithiof 's 
sword. 

ASEN.  The  gods.  Asa-sons,  or  Asen-sons  ;  a  name  gen 
erally  given  to  Scandinavian  kings,  who  were  supposed 
to  trace  descent  from  the  gods  themselves. 

ASKER,  or  ASK.     The  first  man. 

ASGARD.     The  city  of  the  gods. 

ASTRILD.     The  god  of  Love. 


*  The  Translator  is  indebted  for  the  extracts  from  the 
"Prose  Edda,"  in  this  Glossary,  to  Air.  I.  A.  BlackwcU's 
translation  of  that  production,  contained  in  his  new  edition 
of  Mallet's  "Northern  Antiquities"  1847;  an(l  has  also 
profited  largely  by  remarks  in  other  parts  of  his  work,  which 
he  takes  the  present  opportunity  of  acknowledging'. 


192  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

BALDER.  The  god  of  Light,  typified  by  the  Sun.  The 
following  account  of  him  is  taken  from  the  "  Prose 
Edda,"  c.  22  :  "  The  second  son  of  Odin  is  Balder,  and 
it  may  be  truly  said  of  him  that  he  is  the  best,  and  that 
all  the  race  of  man  are  loud  in  his  praise.  So  fair  and 
dazzling  is  he  in  form  and  features,  that  rays  of  light 
seem  to  issue  from  him.  Balder  is  the  wisest,  the 
mildest,  the  most  eloquent  of  all  the  Aesir  ;  yet,  such 
is  his  nature,  that  the  judgment  he  has  pronounced 
cannot  be  altered.  He  dwells  in  the  heavenly  mansion 
called  Breidablik,  into  which  nothing  unclean  can 
enter."  Balder,  or  Day,  was,  at  the  instigation  of 
Loki,  god  of  Mischief,  slain  by  the  blind  god,  Hodur, 
or  Darkness. 

BALE-FIRE.  A  beacon-fire.  That  referred  to  in  the  text, 
No.  XIII,  was  the  fire  kindled  on  Midsummer's  Eve, 
in  honor  of  Balder,  the  god  of  Light,  whose  symbol, 
the  Sun,  at  that  period  seemed  to  reach  its  highest 
power.  It  may  be  remarked,  in  passing,  that  ignorance 
of  the  history  and  meaning  of  the  word  Bale,  or  Bal, 
has  very  far  diverted  its  original  sense  in  our  use  of  its 
compound,  baleful,  which,  properly  signifying  fiery,  full 
of  light,  or  flame,  is  used  in  English  in  the  sense  of 
malignant.  The  heathen  custom  of  lighting  bale-fires 
or  bonfires  on  Midsummer's  Eve  is  still  continued  in 
parts  of  Northern  Germany,  Scotland,  and  Ireland, 
though  the  practice  is  generally  supposed  to  be  intend 
ed  in  honor  of  the  coming  festival  of  St.  John  the  Bap 
tist,  which  falls  on  Midsummer  Day. 

BAUTA-STONE.  A  memorial  raised  over  fallen  warriors, 
and  formed  generally  of  a  block  of  unhewn  stone,  pro 
jecting  several  feet  out  of  the  ground.  The  Bauta- 
stone  differed  from  the  Rune-stone  in  being  unin- 
scribed,  the  memorial  Rune-stone  bearing,  on  the 
contrary,  an  inscription  in  the  form  of  a  serpent,  sur- 


GLOSSARY  AND  NOTES.  193 

mounted  by  the  sign  of  a  hammer,  the  emblem  of 
Thor,  god  of  War. 

BERSERKIR.  A  class  of  mythical  heroes  imbued  with  an 
implacable  frenzy  for  war.  Hence  a  proverbial  expres 
sion  for  any  warrior  of  unusually  ferocious  disposition. 

BiFROST.  The  rainbow.  It  may  be  interesting  to  remark 
the  coincidence  between  the  Ecldaic  account  of  the 
rainbow,  and  Sir  David  Brewster's  theory  of  three 
primitive  colors.  The  following  is  from  the  "  Prose 
Edda,"  chap.  XIII  :  "  'I  must  now  ask,'  said  Gangler, 
'  which  is.  the  path  leading  from  earth  to  heaven  ? ' 
'  That  is  a  senseless  question,'  replied  Har,  with  a 
smile  of  derision  :  '  hast  thou  not  been  told  that  the 
gods  made  a  bridge  from  earth  to  heaven,  and  called  it 
Bifrost  ?  Thou  must  surely  have  seen  it ;  but,  per 
haps,  thou  callest  it  the  rainbow.  //  is  of  three  hues, 
and  is  constructed  with  more  art  than  any  other 
work,'  "  &c. 

BJORN.  Lif.y  a  bear.  The  name  of  Frithiof's  comrade. 
Hence  the  play  on  words,  page  82  : 

"  Bjorn,  come  to  the  rudder  ; 
Hold  it  tight  as  bear's  hug" 

BLCETAND.    Angl.,  blue-toothed. 

BLOOD-EAGLE  (to  tear  the).  A  custom  of  putting  to  death 
an  enemy  under  circumstances  of  peculiar  atrocity. 
The  ceremony  consisted  in  carving  on  the  back  of  the 
prostrate  foe  the  figure  of  an  eagle,  and  so  separating 
the  ribs  from  the  back-bone.  In  the  text,  Bjorn  prom 
ises  to  perform  such  vengeance  on  Frithiof's  slayer, 
should  his  chief  fall. 

BRACE.     The  god  of  Poetry  and  Song. 

BREIDABLIK.  Broad-gleaming,  latifulgent  Balder's  pal 
ace  in  the  heavens. 

BUDKAFLE.     The  bidding-staff.     A  wand  about  a  foot  in 


I94  FRITHIOF'8  SAGA. 

length,  inscribed  with  certain  characters  of  authority  ; 
and  which,  sent  from  house  to  house  with  great  dis 
patch,  formed  a  summons  for  the  assembly  of  the 
whole  nation  to  deliberate  on  public  matters  of  mo 
ment.  This  custom  bears  a  strong  analogy  to  the 
sending  round  of  the  fiery  cross  in  the  Scotch  High 
lands  on  the  like  occasions.  The  practice  in  Scandina 
via,  as  well  as  in  Scotland,  is  minutely  described  by 
Sir  Walter  Scott,  in  the  Notes  to  the  "  Lady  of  the 
Lake,"  Canto  III,  stanza  i. 

DAYLIGHT  OF  DWARFS.  From  the  idea  that  the  Earth  was 
supported  by  four  dwarfs,  North,  South,  East,  and 
West  (see  page  10,  line  6),  came  the  belief  in  the  exist 
ence  of  a  subterranean  race  of  dwarfs,  who  were  sup 
posed  to  be  lighted  by  the  veins  of  gold  in  the  bowels 
of  the  earth. 

DELLING.  Twilight,  dawn.  Son  of  Delling — Dagr,  Day. 
See  "  Prose  Edda,"  c.  10  :  "  Nott  (Night)  espoused 
Delling,  of  the  Aesir  race,  and  their  son  was  Day,  a 
child  light  and  beauteous  like  his  father.  Then  All 
father  took  Night,  and  Day,  her  son,  and  gave  them 
two  horses  and  two  cars,  and  set  them  up  in  the  heav 
ens,  that  they  might  drive  successively  round  the 
world.  Night  rides  first  on  her  horse,  called  Hrimfaxi 
(Rimy,  or  frosty-maned),  who  every  morning,  as  he 
ends  his  course,  bedews  the  earth  with  the  foam  which 
falls  from  his  bit.  The  horse  made  use  of  by  Day  is 
named  Skinfaxi  (shining-maned),  from  whose  mane 
light  is  shed  over  the  earth  and  the  heavens." 

DISARSAL.     The  hall  of  goddesses. 

DRAGON'S  BED.  The  dragon  Fafner,  guardian  of  the  Ni- 
belungen  treasure,  was  fabled  to  lie  upon  it.  Hence, 
gold  was  said  to  be  gathered  from  the  dragon's  bed. 

DRAPA.     A  triumphal  song  in  honor  of  departed  heroes, 


GLOSSARY  AND  XOTES.  195 

sung,  for  the  most  part,  at  the  "  grave-feast,"  which  all 
heirs,  on  succeeding  to  their  fathers,  were  bound  to 
hold.  When  sung  by  Brage  himself,  the  god  of  Song 
(as  in  No.  XXI),  it  signifies  a  hymn  of  welcome  rather 
than  a  dirge. 

EFJESUND.     In  the  Orkneys,  of  which  Angantyr  was  Yarl. 

EINHERIER.  AngL,  chosen  heroes.  All  who,  dying  a  vio 
lent  death,  were  admitted  to  the  joys  of  Valhalla. 

ERIKSGATE.  The  solemn  progress  which  the  Scandinavian 
kings  were  accustomed  to  make  through  their  whole 
realm  after  their  coronation. 

FAFNER.  The  dragon  set  to  watch  over  the  golden  treas 
ure,  but  conquered  by  Sigurd,  the  Siegfried  of  the  Ni- 
belungenlied. 

FAFNER'S-BANE.  Destroyer  of  Fafner.  A  surname  given 
to  Sigurd  for  the  exploit  referred  to  above. 

FOLKVANG.  The  palace  of  Freya  in  the  heavens,  the  sup 
posed  habitation  of  virtuous  and  beautiful  women  after 
death. 

FORSETE,  or  FORSETI.     The  god  of  Justice. 

FREY.  "  One  of  the  most  celebrated  of  the  gods.  He 
presides  over  rain  and  sunshine,  and  all  the  fruits  of 
the  earth  ;  and  should  be  invoked  in  order  to  obtain 
good  harvests,  and  also  for  peace." — Prose  Edda,  c.  24. 

FREYA.  The  goddess  of  Love.  '•  The  most  propitious  of 
the  goddesses  ;  her  abode  in  heaven  is  called  Folk- 
vang.  To  whatever  field  of  battle  she  rides,  she 
asserts  her  right  to  one-half  of  the  slain,  leaving  the 
rest  to  Odin." — Prose  Edda,  c.  24. 

FRIGGA.     The  spouse  of  Odin,  and  mother  of  the  Aesir. 

GANDVIK.     The  White  Sea. 


196  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

GEIRSODD.  Angl.,  spear-death.  In  contradistinction  to 
straw-death,  i.  e.  death  from  disease  or  age.  Suicide, 
practised  by  aged  warriors  to  insure  their  admission  to 
Valhalla,  where  none  dying  a  natural  death  were  ad 
mitted. 

GERDA.     The  most  beautiful  of  women  ;   spouse  of  Frey. 

GLITNIR.     The  palace  of  Forscte  in  the  heavens. 

HAGRING.  The  Fata  Morgana.  A  well-known,  though 
rarely  witnessed  phenomenon,  said  to  be  occasionally 
presented  on  the  Norwegian  coast. 

HAM  and  HEYD.     Two  storm-demons,  or  weather-sprites. 

HAVAMAL.  Angl.,  the  lay  of  the  sublime.  An  Eddaic 
poem,  containing  a  number  of  precepts  said  to  have 
been  given  by  Odin  to  mankind.  Many  of  those  given 
by  Bele  and  Thorsten  to  their  sons  in  the  text  are  actu 
ally  adopted  by  Tegner  from  the  Havamal,  as  may  be 
seen  by  comparing,  for  instance,  page  12,  stanzas  5,  6, 
with  the  following  extracts  from  the  ancient  work  : 
"  Praise  the  fineness  of  an  ended  day  ;  a  woman  when 
she  is  buried  ;  a  sword  when  you  have  tried  it ;  the 
ice  when  you  have  crosssd  it ;  and  liquor  after  it  is 
drunk." — "  Trust  not  the  words  which  a  woman  utters, 
for  their  hearts  have  been  made  like  the  wheel  that 
turns." — "  Trust  not  to  ice  of  one  day's  freezing  ;  nei 
ther  to  the  sleeping  serpent,"  &c.  &c. 

HEIMSKRINGLA.     The  universe. 

HELA,  or  HEL.  Goddess  of  Death  ;  ruler  of  Niffelhem, 
the  abode  of  all  who  died  of  disease  or  old  age. 

HILDUR.     The  goddess  of  War. 

HODUR.     The  god  of  Darkness.     See  Balder. 

HOLMGANG.  A  single  combat.  So  called  from  being  very 
frequently  decided  upon  a  lonely  island  (Holm),  with 
out  witnesses,  and,  of  course,  ti  r  entrance. 

IDUNA.     The  spouse  of  Bragi,  god  of  Song.     She  is  keeper 


GLOSSARY  AND  NOTES.  197 

of  the  apples  of  immortality,  by  which  the  youth  of  the 
gods  is  continually  renewed. 

IDA'S  PLAINS.  Grig.,  Ida-vallen.  Lit.,  the  valley  of  con 
fluence.  The  dwelling  of  the  gods  after  the  destruction 
of  the  universe. 

JERNHOS.    The  iron-headed. 

JUMALA.     A  deity  worshipped  by  the  Finns.     The  term  has 

passed  into  a  name  for  the  Almighty  Being,  and  (as  the 

Countess  von  ImhofT  remarks)  our  Lord  is  named  in 

the  Finnish,  Jumala  Poyke. 
JOTENHEIM,  or  JuTENHEiM.     The  giant's  home,  or  region 

of  the  giants. 

LOFN  (sometimes  LOFNA,  but  less  correctly).  The  presid 
ing  deity  of  Matrimony.  The  term  (from  which  our 
word  love  is  derived)  signifies  unchangeable  affection. 

LOKI.  The  god  of  Evil  and  Mischief;  descended  from  the 
race  of  the  giants. 

MIDGARD  SERPENT.  The  great  serpent  said  to  encompass 
the  whole  earth. 

MIDNIGHT  SUN.  This  expression  (No.  XIII,  stanza  i) 
may  sound  strange  to  many  readers,  unless  they  bear 
in  mind  that  in  parts  of  Sweden  and  Norway  the  sun 
does  not  sink  below  the  horizon  at  all  at  the  period 
(Midsummer)  referred  to  in  the  text,  but  remains  visi 
ble  from  high  ground  through  the  whole  night. 

MIMER.  The  owner  of  the  well  of  wit  and  wisdom,  at  the 
root  of  Yggdrassil  (the  ash-tree,  symbolical,  according 
to  Finn  Magnusen,  of  universal  nature).  Mimer, 
always  drinking  of  his  well,  was  imbued  with  the  high 
est  wisdom. 

MORVEN.     The  north  of  Scotland. 

MUSPEL-HEIM.     The  region  of  Muspcl ;  the  world  of  flame  ; 


198  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

thus  described  in  the  "  Prose  Edda,"  c.  4  :  "  In  the 
south  is  the  world  Muspel.  It  is  a  world  too  luminous 
and  glowing  to  be  entered  by  any  not  its  natives.  He 
who  sitteth  on  its  borders  to  guard  it  is  called  Surtur. 
In  his  hand  he  beareth  a  flaming  falchion,  and  at  the 
end  of  the  world  shall  issue  forth  to  combat,  shall  van 
quish  all  the  gods,  and  consume  the  universe  with 
fire." 
MUSPEL'S  SONS.  Flames. 

NANNA.  The  spouse  of  Balder,  who  died  with  grief  at  her 
husband's  death. 

NASTRAND.     The  strand  of  the  dead. 

NIDHOGG.  The  down-hewer,  or  down-gnawer.  A  dragon, 
said  continually  to  gnaw  at  the  root  of  the  ash,  Ygg- 
clrassil. 

NIFFELHEM.     The  land  of  shadows. 

NORNES.  The  Fates,  or  Destinies,  three  in  number.  Their 
dwelling  was  beneath  the  ash  Yggclrassil,  by  the  foun 
tain  of  Mimer.  See  Voluspa,  stanza  17:  "Thence 
come  the  much-knowing  maidens,  three,  from  that 
fountain  which  is  beneath  the  tree.  One  is  called  Urd 
(the  Past)  ;  another,  Verdandi  (the  Present)  ;  and  the 
third,  Skuld  (the  Future).  They  engrave  the  Runic 
tablets ;  they  determine  the  lives  of  the  sons  of  men  ; 
they  lay  down  laws  ;  they  settle  destinies,  &c. 

NORRANA  TONGA.     The  old  Norse  language. 

ODIN.     The  most  mighty  of  all  the  gods. 

ODIN'S  BIRDS.  "  Two  ravens  sit  on  Odin's  shoulders,  and 
whisper  in  his  ear  the  tidings  and  events  they  have 
heard  and  witnessed.  They  are  called  Hugin  (Thought) 
and  Munin  (Memory),  lie  sends  them  out  at  dawn  of 
day  to  fly  over  the  whole  world,  and  they  return  at  eve, 
towards  meal-time.  Hence  it  is  that  Odin  knows  so 


GLOSSARY  AND  NOTES,  199 

many  things,  and  is  called  Hrafnagud  (the  raven's 
god)." — Prose  Edda,  c.  38.  Hence  ravens,  generally, 
are  called  the  birds  of  Odin. 

OEDUR.  The  spouse  of  Freya.  He  "  left  his  wife,  to  travel 
into  very  remote  countries.  Since  that  time  Freya 
continually  weeps,  and  her  tears  are  drops  of  pure 
gold.  She  has  a  great  variety  of  names  ;  for,  having 
gone  over  many  countries  in  search  of  her  husband, 
each  people  gave  her  a  different  name." — Prose  Edda, 
c- 35- 

PILLARS  OF  SHAME.  These  were  the  Niding-posts,  or  me 
morials  on  which  the  name  of  any  one  guilty  of  cow 
ardice  or  other  disgraceful  conduct  was  inscribed. 

RAGNARb'k.  Lif.,  the  twilight  of  the  gods.  The  destruc 
tion  of  the  universe,  a  desolation  minutely  foreshadowed 
in  the  "  Prose  Edda."  This  period  is  referred  to  in 
No.  XXIV,  where  the  references  sufficiently  explain 
themselves. 

RAN,  or  RANA.     The  goddess  of  the  sea. 

ROTA.     One  of  the  Valkyrien,  which  see. 

RUNES.  The  characters  of  the  Scandinavian  alphabet,  six 
teen  in  number.  To  these  letters  many  marvellous 
properties  were  assigned  ;  they  were  used  sometimes 
as  charms  against  misfortune,  sometimes  against  ene 
mies,  sometimes  to  secure  victory.  They  were  said  to 
have  been  invented  by  Odin  himself,  as  well  for  the 
common  purposes  of  life  as  for  magic. 

RUNENBALK.  A  staff,  graven  with  Runes,  and  supposed 
to  have  some  magic  efficacy. 

SAGA.     The  goddess  of  History. 
SEMING.     A  son  of  Odin. 


200  FRITHIOF'S  SAGA. 

SIGURD.  The  Siegfried  of  the  Nibelungenlied,  conqueror 
of  the  dragon  Fafner. 

SKALD.     The  title  of  the  northern  bards. 

SKOAL.     A  toast  in  honor  of  any  person  or  thing. 

SKINFAXE.     The  horse  of  Day.     See  Delling. 

SKULD.     See  Nome, 

SLEIPNER.  The  steed  of  Odin,  having  eight  legs,  and  ex 
celling  all  horses  ever  possessed  by  gods  or  men. 

SOLUNDAR-OE.     The  Hebrides. 

SOQUABACK.     The  mansion  of  Saga  in  the  heavens. 

SURTUR.     The  god  of  Fire.     See  Muspel-htim. 

THOR.  The  god  of  War,  wielder  of  thunder.  He  is  rep 
resented  always  afoot,  and  armed  with  a  short-shafted 
hammer. 

THRUDVANG.     The  dwelling  of  Thor. 

TING.  The  general  assembly  of  the  Northmen,  which  all 
capable  of  bearing  arms  were  bound  to  attend  on  occa 
sions  requiring  deliberation  or  action.  The  word  is 
still  used,  Volks-Thing  being  applied  to  the  Swedish 
assembly. 

TIRFING.  The  sword  of  a  warrior  named  Angantyr,  which 
was  buried  with  its  owner.  His  daughter  Hervor,  how 
ever,  desiring  to  gain  the  weapon,  caused  her  dead  sire 
to  remonstrate  against  the  proceeding. 

UTGARDA-LOKI.  See  Loki.  Thus  called  from  his  dwell 
ing,  Utgard,  said  to  be  at  the  utmost  limit  of  the  uni 
verse. 

URDA.     See  Nome. 

VALA.     A  spaewife  or  prophetess. 
VALASKIALF.     Odin's  dwelling  in  heaven. 
VALHALL,  VALHALLA.     The  paradise  of  warriors. 


GLOSSARY  AND  NOTES.  201 

VALKYRIA,  VALKYRIE.  Choosers  of  the  slain.  "  Prose 
Eclda,"  c.  36  :  "  There  are,  besides,  a  great  many  other 
goddesses,  whose  duty  it  is  to  serve  in  Valhalla  ;  to 
bear  in  the  drink,  and  take  care  of  the  drinking-horns, 
&c.  They  are  called  Valkyrior.  Odin  sends  them  to 
every  field  of  battle,  to  make  choice  of  those  who  are 
to  be  slain,  and  to  sway  the  victory,"  &c. 

VARG-I-VEUM.     Outlawed.     Under  the  Ban. 

9* 


LEYPOLDT  &  HOLT'S 

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Round  Table. 

"  "We  are  constrained  to  admit  that  not  only  in  promise,  but  in 
performance,  they  are  indeed  remarkable.  Should  Mr.  Weeks 
never  write  another  line,  his  claim  to  an  honorable  mention  among 
American  poets  would  be  secure." — Springfield  Republican. 

Faith  Unwin's  Ordeal.     By  GEORGIANA 

II.  CUAIK,  Author   of  "  Lost  and  Won."      1  vol.,  IGmo. 

Cloth,  §1.25. 

"  The  vicis.-itu.les  of  tho  story  arc  worked  out  by  the  hand  of  a 
master.  Sensntkm  writing  there  is  none  ;  but  though  from  the 
beginning  of  the  tale  there  nre  but  four  prominent^figures  con 
stantly  before  the  reader,  their  presence  never  tires." — The.  London 
Reader. 

Short  Whist  (Laws  of.)      Edited  by  J. 

L.  BALDWIN.  The  Standard  adopted  by  the  London  Clubs. 
And  a  Treatise  on  the  Game  by  J.  C.  16mo.,  cl.  $1.00. 
Paper,  50  cts. 

"  A  treatise  on  whist  as  attractive  and  clean  as  a  missal  belong 
ing  to  one  of  tho  devotees  of  Mother  Church.  Having  been  for 
thirty-six  years  a  player  and  lover  of  the  game,  we  commend  thi- 
book  to  a  beginner  desirous  of  playing  well.'1 — Boston  Common- 
wsalilt. 

"  Hoylo  would  almost  have  pone  beside  himself  with  delisht 
could  he  have  seen  the  art  in  which  he  was  an  adept  dignified 
with  such  exquisite  typography  and  tasteful  binding  as  arc  ex 
pended  on  this  little  manual." — JVcw  York  Time.". 


BOOKS    PUBLISHED 


LEYIPOLDT    &    HOLT, 


451    BROOME    STREET,    NEW    YORK. 


Beethoven's    Letters,    1790-1826.      From 

the  collection  of  Dr.  L.  Nohl.  Translated  by  Lady  Wallace. 
With  a  portrait  and  facsimile.  2  vols.,  12rao.  Cloth,  gilt 
top.  $3.50. 

In  this  collection  of  his  private  correspondence  we  have  an  inte 
rior  view  of  the  great  composer — showing  us  what  he  was,  what  he 
did,  what  he  Buttered,  and  what  was  the  point  of  view  from  which 
he  surveyed  art  and  life.  Beethoven,  in  music,  is  quite  as  great  a 
name  as  Milton's  in  poetry  ;  and  among  the  thousands  who  havo 
been  charmed,  thrilled  and  exalted  by  his  wonderful  melodies,  and 
who  really  appreciate  the  originality,  creativeness  and  might  of  his 
genius,  these  letters  cannot  fail  to  find  delighted  readers. — Boston 
Transcript. 

Mozart's  Letters,  1769-1791.     Translated, 

from  the  collection  of  L.  Nohl,  by  Lady  Wallace.  2  vols., 
12mo.  With  a  portrait  and  facsimile.  Cloth,  gilt  top.  $3.50. 

These  letters  have  the  charm  of  Mozart's  loving  melodies.  They 
are  not  lees  gay  and  tender,  not  less  tremulous  with  sensibility,  and 
seem  to  let  us  into  the  secret  of  his  felicitous  ease  in  composition — 
the  secret  of  a  bird  "Singing  of  summer  with  full-throated  Ease. — 
G.  II.  Leiccs,  in  Fortnightly  Review. 

Delightful  volumes  of  the  letters  of  "Wolfgang  Amadous  Mozart, 
the'composer,  that,  like  his  music,  arc  warm  and  bright,  bespeaking 
Ihe  genial  and  loving  spirit  that  has  ever  made  Mozart  a  favorite. 
It  is  through  a  man's  private  letters,  designed  simply  for  the  eye 
of  affection,  that  we  ascertain  the  true  character.  We  seem  to  sit 
with  him  and  hear  his  voice  in  generous  bursts  of  musical  fervor, 
or  in  social  love,  or  in  friendly  regard  and  inquiry,  experiencing  a 
pleasure  different,  but  still  as  great,  as  that  we  experience  when 
listening  to  his  grand  compositions — Uoston  Saturday  Evening  Gazelle 


Mendelssohn's     Letters    from    Italy    and 

Switzerland.  Translated  from  the  German  by  LADY  WAL- 
LACK.  With  a  Biographical  Notice  by  JULIE  DE  HAK- 
GUKRITTES.  1  vol.,  16mo.  Cloth.  Price,  $1.75. 

"In  tlicse  letters,  the  playful,  affectionate  ruxture  of  the  man  shed» 
everywhere  the  loveliest  radiance.  A  murmur  of  song  seems  to  have 
run  through  all  his  letters.  They  are  the  converse  of  his  Songs  without 
Words;  and  we  venture  to  predict  that  the  Letters  of  Mendelssohn  will 
become  ns  classical  as  those  compositions  ...  It  is  seldom  that  we  have 
inclination  to  speak  of  a  book  in  terms  of  equal  warmth.  We  must  add 
that  Lady  Wallace  has  performed  her  part  of  translator  in  a  manner 
beyond  all  praise." — Parthenon. 

Mendelssohn's  Letters  from  1833  to  1847. 

With  a  Catalogue  of  all  his  musical  compositions.  Trans 
lated  from  the  German  by  LADY  WALLACE.  1  vol.  jmo. 
Cloth.  Price,  $1.75. 

"There  is  not  a  page  in  this  delightful  volume  which  would  not  yield 
umttcr  of  pleasure  and  instruction  to  the  reader." — London  Athenaeum. 

"We  wish  our  religions  societies  would  call  out  a  few  of  the  letters 
of  this  man  and  scatter  them  broadcast  over  the  land  :  they  would 
indeed  bo  '  leaves  for  the  healing  of  the  nations."' — Atlantic  Alontldy. 

Life    of    Felix    Mendelssohn     Bartholdy, 

From  the  German  of  W.  A.  LAMPADIUS,  with  Supplementary 
Sketches  by  JULIUS  BENEDICT,  HENRY  F.  CHORLEY,  LUD- 
VTIG  RELLSTAB,  BAYARD  TAYLOR,  R.  S.  WILLIS,  and  J.  S. 
DWIGIIT.  Edited  and  translated  by  WILLIAM  LEONHARD 
GAGE.  With  portrait.  1  vol.,  16mo.  Cloth.  Top  gilt. 
Price,  $1.75. 

"The  short  but  interesting  life  by  Lam  pad  i  us  is  still  the  best,  the  only 
iife  of  real  value With  the  letters  for  illustration,  it  will  be  impos 
sible  for  any  musical  person  to  read  it  without  interest.'1— 
Journal  of  Jfusic. 


Immen-See.  Grandmother  and  Grand 
daughter.  Ttvo  Tales  from  the  German.  1  vol.,  IGmo. 
Price,  85  cts.  The  same  on  tinted  paper.  Cloth.  Price,  75  cts. 

"Graceful  and  Charming." — London  Athtncettm. 


Life  of  Chopin.  By  F.  LISZT.  Trans 
lated  from  the  French  by  MRS.  MARTHA  WALKER  COOK.  1 
vol.,  IGmo.  Printed  on  tinted  paper.  Cloth.  Price.  $1.50. 

u  Iu  spito  of  the  trammels  of  words,  it  given  expression  to  the  same 
subtle  and  ethereal  conceptions  which  inspired  the  genius  of  Liszt  as  a 
musical  artist.  As  ft  sketch  of  the  life  of  the  great  composer,  it  possesses 
an  interest  with  which  few  biographical  works  can  compare." — Tribune. 

Musical    Sketches.        By    ELISE     POLKO. 

Translated  from  the  Sixth  "German  Edition  by  FANNY  FULLER. 
1  vol.,  IGmo.  Tinted  paper.  Cloth.  Price,  $1.75. 

"Elise  Polko  is  a  very  delicate  prose  poet,  who  reminds  us  somewhat 
of  l)o  La  Motte  Fouquo.  She  has  an  infinity  of  enthusiasm,  and  the 
dream-essays  she  has  wrought  out  from  the  lives  of  those  eminent  in 
musical  composition  arc  many  of  them  remarkably  delicate,  graceful, 
and  beautiful.  The  book  is  finely  translated,  all  the  tenderness  and 
simple  pathos  of  tlio  original  being  apparently  fully  preserved.  Few 
collections  of  partially  imaginative  sketches  have  lately  appeared  so 
likely  to  please  the  lovers  of  this  peculiar  branch  of  literature." — Boston 
Evening  GctseUe. 

Good-For-Nothing    (Memoirs   of  a).     A 

Xovel  of  the  German  Romantic  School.  By  JOSKTII  VON 
EICHEXDORF.  Translated  by  CHARLES  G.  LKLAND.  "With 
illustrated  Title-page  and  Vignettes,  by  E.  B.  BENSELL. 
12mo.,  $1.60. 

"  If  there  is  still  left  any  one  who  still  some  traces  of  Eden  inher- 
1U,  wo  advise  him,  we  urge  it  on  him,  to  give  himself  the  great  pleas; 
tire  of  reading  this  charming  book." — Nation. 

"  A  fino  old  Germ  vi  story,  full  of  quaint  humor  and  sweet  touches 
of  nature."— Sprimjficld  Republican. 

Crumbs   from   the   Round  Table :    a  feast 

for  Epicures.     By  JOSEPH  BARBER.     §1.00. 

"  A  spicy  and  piquant  book,  as  full  of  good  things  .is  an  English 
puddine  is  of  plumbs,  with  great  gustatory  wisdom  to  commend  it."— 
Boston  S-it  Evening  Gazelle. 


Thackeray's  Works.      A   Uniform  Edi-. 

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Vanity  Fair 3  vols. 

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The    Four    Georges;    Lovcl    the   Wid 
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Snobs  1  " 

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Rowena,  &c 1" 

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Sketches,  Novels  by  Eminent  Hands ...  1  " 

Memoirs  of  Barry  Lyndon 1   " 

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Heinrich     Heine's     Pictures    of    Travel. 

Translated  by  CHARLES  G.  LELAND.  Fourth  revised  edition. 
1  vol.,  12mo.  Cloth.  Price,  $'2.25. 

"Tliose  who  wish  for  a  single  good  .specimen  of  Heine  should  read 
liis  first  important  work,  the  work  which  made  his  reputation,  tho 
"Kcisebildcr.1  "—MtlMew  Arnold  (Cjrnhilt  Magazine.) 

Heinrich  Heine's  Book  of  Songs.  Trans 
lated  by  CHARLES  G.  Lsr,AXi».  1  vol.,  IGmo.  Printed  on 
tinted  paper.  Cloth.  Prico,  (?l.*/o. 

Schiller's     Complete    Works    in    English. 

Selected  from  the  best  translations  by  S.  T.  CJLERIDGE,  E.  L. 
BULWER,  MELISII,  T.  MAUTIX,  A.  J.  W.  CHURCHILL,  and 
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royal  8 vo.  Price,  cloth,  $7.00;  half  morocco,  $9.00. 

Schiller's  Poems  and  Ballads.      Translated 

by  BCLWER.  From  the  lost  London  edition.  With  portrait. 
1  vol-,  IGmo.  Vellum  Cloth.  Price,  $1.50. 

The  Poetry  of  Germany.     Selections  from 

the  most  celebrated  Poets,  translated  into  English  verse, 
with  the  original  text  on  tho  opposite  page,  by  A.  BASKER- 
VILLE.  Fifth  edition.  1  vol.,  12mo.  Cloth.  Price,  $2.00 ; 
half  morocco,  $3.00. 

This  work,  embracing  664  pages,  gives  choice  selections  of  more  than 
seventy  of  the  first  German  poets,  including  the  latest  writers,  with  a 
note  of  the  birth  and  place  of  residence  of  each.  Each  pown  is  given 
in  full,  German  as  well  as  Knsrlish,  rendering  tho  book  invaluable  to  all 
students  of  the  former  language. 

Four  American  Poems.    The  Raven.    The 

BELLS.  LENORE.  THE  ROSE.  Metrically  translated  into 
German  by  CHARLES  THEODORE  EBEN.  With  the  original  text 
on  the  opposite  page.  IGmo.  Price,  25  cents. 

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